Major costs associated with pressure sores
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Updated: Oct 28, 2026

Mouse Model of Pressure Ulcers After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: March 9, 2019
H S Javitz1, M M Ward, L Martens
1Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Cost drivers in the treatment of full-thickness pressure sores were identified from the literature, Medicare data tapes and interviews with health-care providers. The following were identified as cost drivers in pressure sore treatment: nursing time related to wound care; nursing time devoted to patient position changes; dressing products; patient support devices; antibiotics; room charges for nursing home care; doctor visits for nursing home and home care patients; surgical debridement for nursing home and home care patients; hospital admissions for medical treatment for pressure sores; admissions for surgical treatment for pressure sores; and additional costs for hospital stays when patients who are admitted for other diagnoses develop sores. These cost drivers may be useful to health-care providers in developing cost-effective strategies for treating and preventing pressure sores.
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