Cause for HUGE blisters on feet?

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC, Post OH, Med/Surg, Hospice.

My uncle spent a week in the hospital after having a kyphoplasty and developed huge fluid filled blisters that go across the top the entire width of both feet right below the toes and are raised about 3.5 cm. I've been a nurse on a med/surg floor for a short time, and I've never seen anything like this. I'm trying to figure out what caused it. Could it be a reaction to the non-skid socks or to an antibiotic, or possibly trauma when he was positioned for his kyphoplasty surgery? The hospital nurses that cared for him and his home health nurse recommend to leave them alone rather than draining them. Any idea what could have caused this? Thank you :)

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Specializes in LTC.

I dont know what caused them but I will tell you that I had one of my kids at Shriners for a burn that was blistered and the doctor did say to leave it intact if at all possible, he just had us doing aquafor oint. to keep it moist. Hope everything works out for your uncle.

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC, Post OH, Med/Surg, Hospice.

That's exactly what it looks like.....a burn. I have no idea how it could happen though. Thank you so much for your advice :)

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Any chance they placed hot packs on his feet or warm saline bags down there?

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC, Post OH, Med/Surg, Hospice.

Nope. The only thing placed on his feet were the hospital socks. I'm still racking my brain trying to figure out what in the world happed to those poor feet.

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I recently develope HUGE blisters on the balls of my feet. I couldn't walk, it was AWFUL!! Of course I knew how i got them... from wearing four inch wooden soled heels for a very long evening out... with lots and lots of walking involved... :uhoh3: Not smart I realize, but I looked cute that night!! MY feet were killing me by the end of the night but I refused to walk downtown barefoot!! The next morning... I woke up to an intesnse pain and was shocked at the enormous blisters covering the balls of my feet. I ended up having to drain them (with a sterile needle) and then used Spenco sterile burn pads covered with gauze... and wrapped in kerlix. Needless to say I was glad I was off that weekend!

So while I am sure that his blisters weren't caused by wearing ridiculous shoes... maybe his were caused by friction like mine were. Does he slide down in bed? Were his feet rubbing against the footboard?

Probably has nothing to do with it, but just thought I would throw the idea out there!!

Poor guy!!

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC, Post OH, Med/Surg, Hospice.

Amazing the crazy things we do to look cute. I wore shoes like that once but NEVER again :)

I think you're right about the friction, just not sure how it could happen. They were on the top of his feet.

Thanks for your input and get rid of those shoes!

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Just curious. Did he have SCD's on at any time? We've had several patients lately who have developed large, fluid-filled blisters on the top of their feet; we think it is the SCDs.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We can't provide medical advice and that's where we're treading. This thread is several months old so I'm sure the issue has been solved.

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