Pressure ulcer incidence on a spinal cord injury unit

Adv Wound Care. 1994 Nov;7(6):57-60.

Abstract

Because of the high risk for pressure ulcers among hospitalized, spinal cord injured patients, one quality improvement measure is to monitor incidence of pressure ulcers. A retrospective chart review of each patient who developed an ulcer during an 18-month period revealed patient characteristics associated with pressure ulcer risk. Of 468 inpatient admissions, 35 patients developed 81 pressure ulcers. Patient variables associated with an incidence rate of 7.5% were an admission diagnosis of pressure ulcer, surgical repair of pressure ulcers, length of stay, new spinal cord injury, longstanding injury (> 10 years), and the use of condom catheters.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hospital Units
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Medical Audit
  • Middle Aged
  • Pressure Ulcer / etiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / complications*
  • Total Quality Management