Novel Support Surface To Alleviate Pressure Ulcer Formation During The Rehabilitation Of Immobile Patients: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of a novel support surface on immobile patients during rehabilitation. <h3>Design</h3> Before-after trial. <h3>Setting</h3> Inpatient tertiary rehabilitation. <h3>Participants</h3> 5 patients with spinal cord injuries and very limited mobility participated in the study. <h3>Interventions</h3> A novel support surface was fabricated. It can dynamically redistribute pressures to less that the critical closing pressure of 10kPa, above which the risk of development of pressure ulcers is high. Each trial lasts 10 days and comprises of 5 phases. Phases 1 and 2A last 2 hours each and the rest of the phases last 3 days each. 1: Use of standard care pressure-relieving mattress and 2-hourly turning 2A: Familiarisation with the the prototype 2B: 2-hourly turning on the prototype 3: 3-hourly turning on the prototype 4: 4-hourly turning on the prototype The pressures over bony prominences (sacrum) was recorded in real time and the pressure-time area under curve (PTAUC) calculated. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Comfort level (11-point visual analogue scale) Presence of pressure injury Maximum pressure exerted PTAUC. <h3>Results</h3> The average age of these patients is 51.6 years. 1 patient did not complete the study as he developed a skin tear which, after investigation, was deemed un-related to the support surface as it was not a typical area for pressure injury. The average comfort level was 8.3. None of the patients developed pressure injuries. The maximum pressures exerted was than 10kPa and PTAUC was kept less than 20kPa-hour even when the turning frequency is stretched to every 4 hours. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This novel support surface can potentially be used during the rehabilitation phase of immobile patients to allow 4-hourly turning so as to reduce the patient disturbance and the manpower required for regular turning. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> Nil.