Principles of preventative foot care

The lower extremities of the body, particularly the heel and ankle, are at risk of ulceration, skin tears and other forms of trauma. This is especially so in today's health-care environment, where society is faced with the challenges of an ageing population, alongside an increased incidence of diabetes, vascular insufficiency, obesity and dermatological conditions, all of which pose both clinical and economic challenges to health-care providers. Once established, damage to the foot can have a detrimental impact on the patient's overall wellbeing, often over extended periods of time, with some patients spending many years within the health-care system. Advanced wound care products tend to have a strong focus upon management of tissue damage, infection, maceration and the promotion of an optimum environment to facilitate the healing process. This clinician-patient collaboration product review challenges traditional ideals and explores the impact of using an adherent soft silicone foam dressing in maintaining skin integrity and preventing tissue damage in those high-risk patient groups.