Pressure sores and intra-operative risk

The enormous cost of pressure sore care is well documented (1, 2), but a review of the available literature shows few studies on the genesis of intra-operative pressure sores exist and the contribution of operating room exposure as an aetiological factor is largely undefined. This article provides a brief overview of the aetiology of pressure sores, details interface pressures reported on operating tables, and critically reviews the literature suggesting a link between events during the intra-operative period and post-operative pressure sore formation.