Changing the Incidence of Pressure Sores in Burn Patients: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Abstract

Pressure sores are a serious health problem that can cause pain, suffering, disability and even death. The number of patients who develop pressure sores is estimated in the millions annually, with a cost of $1.6 billion. Burn patients are at risk for pressure sores related to potential skin breakdown from wet dressings, wound exudates, edema, hypermetabolism, splints, elastic wraps, multiple surgeries and immobility. After a hospital wide skin assessment day, two of the six patients in our burn unit were found to have pressure sores. These findings led to our educational initiative. Beginning in October 2004 weekly skin rounds were initiated. Every Thursday skin checks were performed on each patient in the burn unit, specifically observing the occipital, heel and sacral areas. Data was analyzed on 158 patients for evidence of pressure sores. Our methods were unique in that skin checks were performed weekly, the team was multidisciplinary and the...