ABSTRACT

Capillary blood sampling via a heel puncture is a common procedure performed on hospitalized neonates. If not performed properly, a heelstick can lead to complications. The clinical and financial impact of complications can be significant. Also in some situations, the procedure could be complicated with skin infections, hematomes, soft tissue infections, arthritis and osteomyelitis. We report an infant complicated with arthitis and soft tissue infection secondary to heel puncture and we want to emphesize the importance of neonatal procedures.