NEW Abductor Offloads Heels Post Hip Surgery

Ortho nurse and WOCN nurse (mother and daughter team), design and develop new product to address a long awaited offloading challenge of INCONSISTENTLY offloading heels post hip surgery.

A decade of journals address ongoing challenge and increasing numbers of 'Ortho-Related' Heel Ulcers with expected numbers to rise based on statistics predicting a rise in hip surgeries from 300,000 to 600,000 by 2015.

A recent study demonstrates a rise in heel ulcers post hip surgery, from 14 to 17% with a potential to increase based on a near doubling of the elderly population by 2030.  Attention is needed in this matter.

Alone, heels are vulnerable to pressure damage: anatomical shape of bone, small or large vessel compromise, neuropathy, post-op edema or sciatic nerve innervations

A survey of the Eastern US, asking which devices or methods of offloading are used most frequently on post op units, it was identified that an inconsistency in offloading heels post hip surgery still exists.

In addition to infrequent use of heel boots, a variety of methods offloading was identified:  1) pillow placement, 2) foam neck cradles, 3) folding an air mat, 4) cut up foam 5) folded sheets, towels, blankets 6) a roll of cast padding, and 7) heel pads.

Upon survey, Heel boots on the market, designed to offload heels were found to be used inconsistently post hip surgery and noted to be 'cumbersome' or 'incompatible' with the Abductor wedge pillow.

2009 national guideline dictates a need for offloading heels on bedbound patients.  

Not only will a 'Pressure Relief Abductor' CONSISTENTLY prevent heel ulcers status-post Hip Surgery, but will also STANDARDIZE the offloading procedure across the continuum of care.

A Pressure Relief Abductor will eliminate heel ulcers post Hip Surgery, thereby reduce suffering as well as the national Pressure Ulcer Rate of heel ulcers in this HIGH RISK Population.