Abstract
Of all patients in a hospital environment, trauma patients may be particularly at risk for developing (devicerelated) pressure ulcers (PUs), because of their traumatic injuries, immobility, and exposure to immobilizing and medical devices. Studies on devicerelated PUs are scarce. With this study, the incidence and characteristics of PUs and the proportion of PUs that are related to devices in adult trauma patients with suspected spinal injury were described. From JanuaryDecember 2013, 254 trauma patients were visited every 2 days for skin assessment. The overall incidence of PUs was 28·3% (n = 72/254 patients). The incidence of devicerelated PUs was 20.1% (n = 51), and 13% (n = 33) developed solely devicerelated PUs. We observed 145 PUs in total of which 60·7% were related to devices (88/145). Devicerelated PUs were detected 16 different locations on the front and back of the body. These results show that the incidence of PUs and the proportion of devicerelated PUs is very high in trauma patients.
| Translated title of the contribution | Pressure ulcers in trauma patients with suspected spine injury: A prospective cohort study with emphasis on device-related pressure ulcers |
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| Original language | Dutch |
| Article number | D371 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 160 |
| Issue number | 25 |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |