Osteomyelitis of the Calcaneus Secondary to Heel Pad Puncture: A Case Report

Heel pad puncture, a well-established procedure for obtaining hematologic samples from infants, may be complicated by acute osteomyelitis of the calcaneus. One such case is presented which involved a 3½-month-old female. Physicians are cautioned that calcaneal osteomyelitis should be suspected if soft tissue swelling and erythema are present around the heel area.