Perioperative analgesia: a factor in the development of heel pressure ulcers?

This article presents the incidence of heel pressure ulcers after an elective hip or a knee replacement. The majority of patients in the authors' institute receive either a neuraxial block (epidural and/or spinal) or peripheral nerve blocks (femoral and sciatic), depending on the anaesthetist's and surgeon's preference, and the patient's physical status. The past few years have seen increasing use of peripheral nerve blocks for knee replacement surgery.