Update on pressure ulcer management and deep tissue injury

To review recent literature regarding therapeutic management of pressure ulcers and to discuss the potential implications of the newly recognized entity, deep tissue injury (DTI).

A MEDLINE search was conducted of pressure ulcer therapy published between January 2001 and October 2009. Key search terms included pressure ulcers, deep tissue injury, nutrition, antibiotics, and therapy.

Comparative clinical trials involving pharmacologic agents in the treatment of pressure ulcers and DTI were evaluated. Included trials were those with defined interventions and outcome parameters for wound healing.

Pressure ulcers remain an important issue in the care of elderly and immobilized patients. DTI has been recently added by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel as a separate category in the staging of pressure ulcers. There is currently a lack of consensus on how to identify and treat DTI, but preventive measures typically employed in the management of all pressure ulcers have been recommended. Recent studies on topical phenytoin, silver preparations, and growth factors report benefit in the management of pressure ulcers. However, studies evaluating these treatment approaches often lack the sample size necessary to adequately support recommendations.

Determining the extent of tissue damage in DTI is currently not possible. Therefore, management recommendations focus on limiting extension of the ulcer stage through preventive strategies. Routine use of topical phenytoin, silver preparations, or growth factors in therapy of pressure ulcers cannot be recommended until more data from rigorously designed studies are available.