Prevalence of Pressure Ulcers in Orthopaedic Patients

M. Al-Shadedi, Ali

	Prevalence of Pressure Ulcers in Orthopaedic Patients
Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal
Article 1, Volume 11, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 529-535 PDF (0 K)
Author
Ali M. Al-Shadedi
Abstract
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Pressure sore in orthopedic patients is a common problem with high expectation of occurrence on the ward, it should be watched for in any admitted patient having high liability for its development like, old age particularly those patients with dementia, patient with malnutrition or anemia and long stay in bed or complicated multiple surgeries. Orthopedic staff should be familiar with measures required to prevent and reduce its occurrence. OBJECTIVE: To highlight the prevalence, onset, types and number and the most common sites of pressure sores, length of stay in hospital with various types of treatment delivered to these patients in orthopedic wards. PATIENT AND METHODS: 215 patients were admitted with orthopedic problem for treatment and observed for the possibility of occurrence of pressure ulcer in orthopedic ward. The data collection period was over five years; these patients were treated for trauma to proximal femur, hip joint, pelvis and elective surgery at Al-Sader teaching Hospital of Kufa College of Medicine in Najaf City and Al-Yarmouk teaching Hospitals of Al-Mustanseria College of medicine in Baghdad city. Braden scale was used for predicting pressure ulcer and for assessing these patients. RESULTS: 215 patients were assessed for being at risk of developing pressure sores by using Braden scale for predicting pressure ulcer. 60 patients with various levels of risk factors with prevalence of 27.90% developed the pressure sores. The age range of patients with pressure ulcer was 42-77 years, with mean age of 63.2 years. Female patients were 40 and male patients were Pressure sores developed in 42 [70%] patient with trauma out of 60 patient under study, 10 patient 16.6% with elective surgery patients, two patients 3.32% conservatively treated patients, and 6 patients 9.96% treated for removal of old implants.13 patients developed ulcer at the first week and 10 patients developed pressure ulcer at the second week of their stay in orthopaedic ward and the rest 37 patients developed it after the second week of their stay in the ward. . CONCLUSION: Prevention of pressure ulcer requires the collaboration of all the nursing and surgical staff from different specialty like orthopaedic surgery. Development of pressure sore is the cause behind delay of patient discharge after successful surgery. Expectation of the development of bed sore is significantly high in elderly or bed ridden and hemiplegic patients
Keywords
pressure ulcer; bed sore

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