title: Heel pressure ulcers: purple heel and deep tissue injury.
abstract: The heel is a frequent site of pressure ulcer formation, in particular, the development of suspected deep tissue injury. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology and prevention of heel pressure ulcers. Also, the related concept of purple heel, a not-well-recognized entity, is introduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salcido
authors.forename: Augustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chulhyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006365:Heel / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011482:Protective Devices; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena