Brief hospitalization protocol for pressure ulcer surgical treatment: outpatient care and one-stage reconstruction

to evaluate a brief hospitalization protocol for the treatment of pressure ulcers, proposed by the Complex Wound Group of Clinical Hospital of University of Sao Paulo Medical School, particularly in regard to selection of patients, hospitalization time, cutaneous covering, complications and sore recurrence.

retrospective cohort of 20 consecutive patients with 25 pressure lesions Grade IV. All patients were ambulatorily prepared and were hospitalized for surgical one time procedure for pressure lesion closing.

in total, 27 flaps were performed to close 25 wounds. Three patients showed minor dehiscence (11.1%). There was no recurrence during the post-surgical follow-up period. No patient suffered a new surgery and no flap showed partial or total necrosis. Median time of hospitalization was 3.6 days (2-6 days) and median follow-up was 91 months (2-28 months). All patients maintained their lesions closed, and there was no recurrence during follow-up.

the brief hospitalization protocol was considered adequate for the resolution of pressure wounds, showing an average time of hospitalization of 3.6 days and rate of minor surgical wound dehiscence of 11.1%.