Teamwork approach to prevention and treatment of skin breakdown in spinal cord patients

Pressure ulcers, which are localized injuries to skin and underlying tissue resulting from prolonged pressure, are a significant complication among patients with spinal cord injury. They threaten patients' quality of life, prolong stays at health care facilities, and pose a burden on the overall health care system through increased costs. Familiarity with the risk factors for developing pressure ulcers and the methods used to treat them is paramount to decreasing their occurrence and lessening the negative impact from both a human and economic standpoint.