PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Anoo Jain
AU  - Nicholas Rutter
TI  - Ultrasound study of heel to calcaneum depth in neonates
AID  - 10.1136/fn.80.3.F243
DP  - 1999 May 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
PG  - F243--F245
VI  - 80
IP  - 3
4099  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/80/3/F243.short
4100  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/80/3/F243.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed1999 May 01; 80
AB  - AIM To investigate whether it would be safe to extend the currently recommended area of sampling to the whole heel in neonates. METHODS Eighty newborn infants were studied, weight range 0.56 to 4.34 kg, gestation 24 to 42 weeks. Ultrasound scanning was used to measure the shortest distance between the skin and the perichondrium of the calcaneum. RESULTS The shortest depth of perichondrium was in the centre of the heel and ranged from 3 to 8 mm. In 78 of the 80 infants the distance was 4 mm or more. There was a small but significant positive correlation with weight. CONCLUSIONS Standard automated lancets for preterm use that puncture to a depth of 2.4 mm may be safely used anywhere over the plantar surface of the heel. The posterior aspect of the heel should be avoided. Reducing the density of heel pricks should reduce the associated pain.