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Pressure sores in the acute trauma patient: incidence and causes
K L O'Sullivan1, L H Engrav, R V Maier
1Swedish Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle 98104, USA.
Objectives:
The purpose of this review was to determine the incidence of pressure sores in acute trauma patients and to identify the causes. DESIGN AND MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart review of all acute trauma patients admitted to Harborview Medical Center between January of 1991 and December of 1993 who were discharged with an ICD-9 diagnosis of acute pressure sore.
Results:
A total of 7,492 trauma patients were admitted. Thirty-two patients developed 44 pressure sores for an incidence of 0.4%. All of the patients were severely injured (mean Injury Severity Score, 21). Eighteen (41%) of the pressure sores developed as a result of unrelieved positional pressure. Thirteen (30%) of the pressure sores were equipment induced.
Conclusion:
Our incidence of pressure sores in acute trauma victims is very low and occurs in those most seriously injured. The majority of the wounds are due to unrelieved pressure from body positioning or equipment failure.