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A sore spot in pediatrics: risk factors for pressure ulcers

Irma A Samaniego1

  • 1Shriners Hospitals for Children-Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

Pediatric Nursing
|September 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric pressure ulcers, often linked to myelodysplasia, primarily affect the feet and lower extremities. Key risk factors include paralysis, immobility, and insensate areas, with sacral ulcers appearing in older children and wheelchair users.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric wound care
  • Dermatology
  • Pediatric surgery

Background:

  • Pressure ulcers are a significant concern in pediatric patients, impacting quality of life and healthcare costs.
  • Understanding the specific risk factors and common locations of pressure ulcers in children is crucial for effective prevention and management.
  • This study focuses on pressure ulcers in children, differentiating them from other skin breakdown issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and characteristics of pressure ulcers in a pediatric population.
  • To identify primary diagnoses and associated risk factors contributing to pressure ulcer development in children.
  • To determine the most common sites for pressure ulcers in pediatric patients and factors influencing their location.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective, exploratory study design was employed.
  • Data were collected from children seen in a hospital's wound clinic over a 1-year period.
  • Analysis focused on 50 pediatric patients diagnosed with pressure ulcers.

Main Results:

  • Myelodysplasia was the primary diagnosis in children with pressure ulcers.
  • Identified risk factors included paralysis, insensate areas, high activity, and immobility.
  • Pressure ulcers most frequently occurred on the lower extremities, especially the feet, with sacral ulcers noted in older children and wheelchair users.

Conclusions:

  • Pressure ulcers in children are often associated with underlying conditions like myelodysplasia and specific risk factors.
  • The home environment is the predominant setting for pressure ulcer development in pediatric patients.
  • Targeted interventions addressing identified risk factors and common ulcer locations are needed for prevention.

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