[Long-term results after surgical treatment of pressure sores]

Thirty-one patients were operated on because of pressure sores. Twenty-five of these were investigated by means of an enquete. Twenty-two patients replied. In 9 of 22 patients recurrence of pressure sores took place during the observation period, the mean observation time being 35 months. It is concluded that operative treatment of pressure sores, with the methods employed here can be recommended when the conservative treatment is protracted, or the conservative treatment does not result in improvement, provided that the patient is fully aware that consistent relief of pressure is necessary in the postoperative period and the general condition of the patient permits this. Special attention is necessary in patients with repeated recurrences of pressure sores, to ensure that the aforementioned conditions are fulfilled, before surgical treatment. The treatment of repeated recurrences of pressure sores involves many days of hospitalisation, and therefore very high costs.