Preventing pressure sores in elderly patients: a comparison of seven mattress overlays

Long-term elderly patients at risk of pressure sores as shown by superficial skin breaks in the pressure areas were randomly allocated to seven low-priced mattress overlays, alternating pressure (AP): Large Cell Ripplebed; constant low pressure (CLP): Preventix, a 'Groove' prototype, Modular Propad (contoured foam); Ardo Watersoft; Spenco, Surgicgoods Hollowcore Mattress Pad (fibrefills). Assessments of the patients' medical condition, nursing management and pressure areas were carried out twice weekly for a mean of 17.7 days. If the pressure areas deteriorated significantly the trials were stopped and the patients were transferred to other supports. Thirteen per cent of trials on Ripplebeds had to be stopped compared with 32%, 35% and 37% respectively on contoured foam mattresses (p = 0.0005), 47% on the water mattress (p < 0.001) and 51% and 54% on fibrefills (p < 0.0001). Respective healing rates were: 45%, 37%, 24% and 20% (p = 0.001). Although the contoured foam mattresses provided better protection than the fibrefills (p < 0.01), only the AP mattress effectively prevented and healed sores in these patients who could not be regularly repositioned.