ALLEVYN Gentle Border Heel Foam Dressing — Hydrocellular, Silicone Gel Adhesive, Malleolus Coverage, Item 66800506

A hydrocellular foam dressing uniquely shaped to conform to the heel and cover the malleolus — with perforated silicone gel adhesive that repositions without losing adherence and requires no secondary fixation. ALLEVYN Gentle Border Heel (66800506) is Smith & Nephew's heel-specific bordered hydrocellular foam dressing, sized and contoured to wrap around the back of the foot, cover the posterior heel, and extend coverage to the malleolus — the bony ankle prominence that standard square and rectangular dressings consistently fail to cover or maintain adhesion on. Its advanced triple-layer construction (perforated silicone gel adhesive wound contact layer, absorbent hydrocellular foam core, highly permeable waterproof film backing) delivers triple-action fluid management — absorbing, retaining, and transpiring exudate to maintain an optimal moist wound environment throughout up to 7 days of wear. The multi-way stretch outer film conforms to the complex, non-planar surface geometry of the heel during movement without lifting or tunneling at the edges. Showerproof. No secondary retention required. 5 dressings per box.

✔ Heel-Specific Shape — Covers Posterior Heel & Malleolus, Conforms to Heel Anatomy    ✔ Triple-Action Hydrocellular Foam — Absorbs, Retains & Transpires Exudate    ✔ Perforated Silicone Gel Adhesive — Repositionable, Pain-Free Removal, No Secondary Fixation    ✔ Multi-Way Stretch Film — Stays in Place Through Ambulation and Repositioning

Product Details

Indicated For — Wound Types

• Heel pressure injuries — Stage 2 through unstageable, and deep tissue pressure injuries on the posterior heel
• Diabetic heel ulcers — plantar and posterior heel wounds in patients requiring gentle, atraumatic dressing management
• Venous and arterial leg ulcers extending to the heel or malleolus
• Post-surgical heel wounds — total joint replacement recovery, vascular surgery, orthopedic procedures involving the foot and ankle
• Heel skin tears in elderly or anticoagulated patients where standard adhesive dressings cause further injury
• Achilles tendon wound sites and posterior ankle wounds where coverage of the Achilles and malleolus simultaneously is required
• Any heel or ankle wound on patients with fragile, sensitive, or compromised periwound skin

Why the Heel Requires a Purpose-Shaped Dressing

The heel is one of the most anatomically demanding wound sites in wound care. Unlike flat body surfaces — the torso, thigh, or upper arm — the heel presents three distinct mechanical challenges that cause standard square or rectangular dressings to fail consistently and quickly.

First, the geometry: the posterior heel is a compound curve, with the plantar surface, the Achilles tendon insertion, and the medial and lateral malleoli all converging in a small area at different angles to each other. A flat dressing pressed against this geometry creates immediate lifting and tunneling at the border — the edges pull away from the skin as the dressing conforms to the curvature on one axis but not another. Second, the malleolus: the bony prominence of the medial and lateral ankle lies directly adjacent to most heel wounds and is itself at high risk for pressure injury. A dressing that covers only the posterior heel leaves the malleolus uncovered and unprotected. Third, movement: every step, every repositioning, and every time the patient's heel contacts the bed surface applies shear and peel forces to the dressing border — forces that pull a flat dressing off non-planar anatomy almost immediately.

The ALLEVYN Gentle Border Heel is shaped specifically to address all three of these challenges simultaneously. Its anatomical contour wraps around the back of the foot to achieve a snug fit against the heel's complex geometry. Its overall dimensions — 9-1/10" x 9" — are sized specifically to provide coverage not just of the posterior heel but of the malleolus, providing extra cushioning and protection to this adjacent high-risk bony prominence. And its multi-way stretch outer film accommodates movement in multiple planes, maintaining border adhesion through ambulation and repositioning rather than peeling off the first time the patient moves.

Triple-Action Hydrocellular Technology — How ALLEVYN Manages Exudate

ALLEVYN Gentle Border Heel uses the same hydrocellular foam core as the full ALLEVYN Gentle Border line — a three-phase fluid management system that goes beyond simple absorption to maintain an optimal wound environment throughout the full wear period.

• Absorb: The perforated silicone gel contact layer allows exudate to pass freely into the hydrocellular foam core while remaining non-adherent to the wound bed. Fluid is drawn away from the wound surface rapidly, preventing pooling and maceration at the wound bed
• Retain: The hydrocellular foam architecture locks absorbed exudate within the dressing structure under compression — including the significant compressive forces applied to the heel during weight-bearing. This anti-rewetting property prevents absorbed fluid from being squeezed back toward the wound when the patient stands, walks, or has their heel compressed against a support surface
• Transpire: The waterproof outer film actively transmits moisture vapor out of the dressing while blocking external liquid ingress. This high moisture vapor transmission rate prevents the accumulation of excess humidity under the dressing, manages the wound microclimate, and reduces periwound maceration risk — particularly important on the heel where skin breakdown from prolonged moisture exposure is a primary concern

The Perforated Silicone Gel Adhesive — Why It Matters on the Heel

The heel is one of the highest-risk sites for adhesive trauma. Elderly patients, diabetic patients, and patients on anticoagulation or long-term corticosteroids commonly have periwound skin at the heel that is thin, fragile, and prone to tearing on removal of standard adhesive dressings. The ALLEVYN Gentle Border Heel's perforated silicone gel adhesive layer addresses this directly: the gel bonds gently to intact periwound skin to create a secure seal without the concentrated peel forces of acrylate or hydrocolloid adhesives, does not bond to the wound bed or fragile granulating tissue, and releases from intact skin with minimal force on removal. The gel also allows the dressing to be lifted and repositioned during application — an important feature on the heel, where achieving accurate initial placement around the complex anatomy of the Achilles tendon and malleolus on the first attempt is difficult in clinical practice.

Application Guide

• Cleanse the wound and dry the periwound skin thoroughly before application
• Position the patient to allow clear access to the heel — prone positioning or with the foot elevated off the bed surface provides the best access for accurate placement
• Remove the release liner and position the dressing against the heel — orient the dressing so the contoured shape wraps around the posterior heel with the wings extending up to cover the medial and lateral malleolus on each side
• The dressing can be lifted and repositioned before pressing down firmly to finalize adhesion — use this to achieve accurate anatomical placement around the Achilles tendon and malleolus before committing to final adhesion
• Press all borders firmly against the periwound skin to complete the seal, paying particular attention to the edges around the malleolus where the skin surface changes angle
• No secondary retention is required — the self-adherent silicone gel border holds the dressing securely. For patients who are ambulatory or where additional security is needed, a light conforming retention bandage may be applied over the dressing without compromising function
• The dressing is showerproof — patients may bathe and shower normally while the dressing is in place; avoid prolonged soaking
• The dressing can be lifted during the wear period for wound inspection without losing adhesion — replace and press down to re-seal
• Change when exudate approaches the border, when the dressing is visibly saturated, or at 7 days maximum — whichever comes first
• Remove by gently lifting from a corner and peeling back slowly along the skin surface — the silicone gel releases with minimal force without stripping periwound skin

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Questions about ALLEVYN Gentle Border Heel or any of our heel wound dressings? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST