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Clinical Research
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Changes in heel skin temperature when hip surgery patients' heels are resting on the bed surface First Author: Vivian Wong Authors: Vivian K. Wong, RN, CWCN, PhD Nancy A. Stotts, RN, EdD, FAAN Harriet W. Hopf, MD Glenna A. Dowling, RN, PhD Erika S. Froelicher, RN, PhD, FAAN Purpose: This one-group, prospective, repeated measures study examined how external pressure affects heel temperature in adults in the first 3 days after hip surgery. Method: Temperature sensors were placed on the plantar surface of each foot, close to the heels. Measures were taken on room air and with supplemental oxygen when the heels were 1) suspended above the bed surface for 20 minutes (preload), 2) on the bed surface for 15 minutes (loading), and 3) again suspended above the bed surface for 15 minutes (unloading). Data Analysis: 3-way repeated measures ANOVA Results: Eighteen subjects (9 men and 9 women) from two acute care hospitals participated. When compared with preload, heel temperature increased during loading and unloading in both legs on post-op days 1 (p = 0.003) and 3 (p = 0.044) but did not change on post-op day 2. With supplemental oxygen, heel temperature increased during loading and unloading in both legs on all three post-op days (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Whether the increase in skin temperature is related to changes in perfusion or is associated with compromised tissue is not known. Further work is needed to understand why this short period of external pressure results in increased heel temperature. |
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