Treatment starts by completely floating the heel off the bed, checking circulation, and having a clinician determine depth and dressing needs. A dry, stable heel eschar may be left intact when blood flow is poor and there is no infection; never cut it off at home. Spreading redness, drainage, fever, or a cold, pale, painful foot requires urgent assessment.
Place support under the calf so the heel is suspended without pressure on the Achilles tendon, or use a properly fitted heel-offloading boot. A pillow directly under the heel does not offload it. Check device fit and skin regularly, especially when sensation or mobility is limited.
Heel wounds can reflect both pressure and peripheral artery disease. A clinician may check pulses, Doppler signals, ankle-brachial index, toe pressures, or other perfusion tests before debridement or compression. A cold, pale or blue foot, rest pain, or sudden loss of sensation is an emergency.
Dressing choice depends on depth, drainage, infection, and perfusion. Do not soak the foot or use peroxide. Stable, dry, adherent heel eschar without redness or drainage is commonly protected rather than removed, while loose, draining, or infected tissue requires clinician-directed treatment.
Seek same-day care for new drainage, odor, warmth, spreading redness, increasing pain, fever, or exposed deep tissue. Call 911 for severe illness, confusion, or signs of sepsis, and for a suddenly cold, numb, discolored foot.
Call 877-545-1300 or request a provider to begin care. Healix360 serves Southern California and Nevada and accepts Medicare Part B and most major insurance plans.