Kl. Osullivan et al., PRESSURE SORES IN THE ACUTE TRAUMA PATIENT - INCIDENCE AND CAUSES, The journal of trauma, injury, infection, and critical care, 42(2), 1997, pp. 276-278
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 Ce
nter 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 pr
essure sores for an incidence of O.4%. All of the patients were severe
ly injured (mean Injury Severity Score, 21), Eighteen (41%) of the pre
ssure sores developed as a result of unrelieved positional pressure. T
hirteen (30%) of the pressure sores mere 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 fai
lure.