Managing pressure sores

Pressure ulcers are caused by pressure-induced necrosis of soft tissue and as such should be entirely preventable. However, management of pressure ulcers accounts for a significant utilization of healthcare resources. Although pressure can be considered as the initiating insult, multiple factors also contribute to progression and development. Therefore, treatment of pressure ulcers requires a multidisciplinary approach. Recognition of at-risk patients and the introduction of preventative measures is the mainstay of treatment. Multiple adjuncts to pressure ulcer resolution such as pressure relief systems, nutritional supplementation, pharmaceutical debridement, antimicrobials, negative wound pressure therapy, and surgery can be employed. Grade I and II ulcers are treated conservatively with dressings and the removal of precipitating factors. Deeper lesions with significant tissue necrosis and secondary infection may require surgical debridement and reconstructive closure. The development of a pressure ulcer is often a reflection of significant co-morbidity and treatment should be applied in the context of the overall likely clinical outcome and prognosis.     

Managing pressure sores

Management of pressure ulcers accounts for a significant proportion of healthcare resources. Pressure ulcers (or sores) are caused by pressure-induced necrosis of soft tissue and as such should be entirely preventable. Although pressure can be considered as the initiating insult, multiple factors also contribute to progression and development. Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers requires a multidisciplinary approach. Recognition of at-risk patients and the introduction of preventative measures is the mainstay of prevention. Multiple adjuncts to pressure ulcer resolution such as pressure relief systems, nutritional supplementation, pharmaceutical debridement, antimicrobials, negative wound pressure therapy and surgery can be employed. Category I and II ulcers are treated conservatively with dressings and the removal of precipitating factors. Although the majority of pressure ulcers are managed by nursing staff without any medical intervention, deeper lesions with significant tissue necrosis and secondary infection may require surgical debridement and possibly reconstructive closure. The development of a pressure ulcer is often a reflection of significant comorbidity and treatment should be applied in the context of the patient's overall likely clinical outcome and prognosis.     

Managing pressure sores

Management of pressure ulcers accounts for a significant proportion of healthcare resources. Pressure ulcers are caused by pressure-induced necrosis of soft tissue and therefore should be entirely preventable. Although pressure can be considered as the initiating insult, multiple factors also contribute to progression and development. Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers requires a multidisciplinary approach. Recognition of at risk patients and the introduction of preventative measures are crucial. Multiple adjuncts to pressure ulcer resolution such as pressure relief systems, nutritional supplementation, debridement, antimicrobials, negative wound pressure therapy and surgery can be employed. Category I and II ulcers are treated conservatively with dressings and the removal of precipitating factors. Although the majority of pressure ulcers are managed by nursing staff without medical intervention, deeper lesions with significant tissue necrosis and secondary infection may require surgical debridement and possibly reconstructive closure. The development of a pressure ulcer is often a reflection of significant co-morbidity and treatment should be applied in the context of the patient's overall prognosis.     

Biceps femoris flap for closure of ischial pressure ulcers

Background

The surgical management of stages III and IV pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury patients is ussually based on a large debridment of necrotic tissue before performing a cover of the defect by a flap. The purpose of our study is to analyze our results in terms of morbidity and recurrence of pressure ulcers covered by biceps femoris musculocutaneous flap and compares it with literature data.

Methods

A retrospective clinical study of 23 consecutive patients operated for stage IV ischial pressure ulcers by biceps femoris flap was carried out. Other surgical techniques coverage of pressure ulcers as well as all patients with pressure ulcers on another anatomical location were excluded from this study. An analytical statistics in search of a risk factor for recurrence by log rank test was also performed.

Results

The mean follow-up was 68.4 months. Primary healing was obtained without complications in 30.8 and 38.4 % had a recurrence of the ulcer. Seroma was statistically correlated to a significant risk of recurrence of pressure ulcers (p?=?0.0284, log rank test), as well as to drains removal before the eighth day (p?=?0.0114).

Conclusions

Surgical management of ischial pressure ulcers remains as a difficult procedure with significant postoperative complications and a high recurrence rate. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.     

Noninvasive technique using thallium-201 for predicting ischaemic ulcer healing of the foot

A post-stress imaging study utilizing single intravenous doses of thallium-201 was performed on feet with trophic skin lesions. Forty-two ischaemic ulcers were classified into four basic types according to the presence and degree of the inherent inflammatory response of the ulcer in both the initial and delayed distributions. Both the relationship between ulcer type and prognosis and the effects of therapy within ulcer type were assessed. The results suggest that ulcers of Type I or Type II heal in response to conservative treatment, while ulcers of Type III, although undergoing healing, require surgical treatment to prevent a protracted hospitalization. In Type IV ulcers, healing is not to be expected at all with conservative therapy; therefore an early decision of amputation may be necessary if surgical measures are not indicated. The technique reported may be helpful not only in the prediction of spontaneous ulcer healing but also in the selection of appropriate treatment.     

Management of heel ulcers in insensate foot by using free prefabricated radial fascial flap — a new flap

Heel ulcers are common in insensate foot. The management of such ulcers require tissue not only to resurface the skin defect, which is small in most of the cases; but also well vascularised tissue to fill the cavity which results after excision of the ulcer. We have described a new flap prefabricated radial fascial flap, by which both aims are achieved easily.     

Recurrence rates of ischial sores in para- and tetraplegics treated with hamstring flaps: an 8-year study.

We have collected data on the second follow-up of 27 patients who underwent musculocutaneous flap closure of their ischial pressure sores. Thirty-seven ulcers were operated on between 1988 and 1993 using the V-Y advancement hamstring musculocutaneous island flap. At the initial follow-up (mean = 20 months) in 1993, despite 33% of patients having had recurrent ulcers and 14.8% having undergone re-advancements, only 14% of patients had non-healing ulcers. In 1997, follow-up period ranged from 18 to 90 months, with a mean of 62 months. Four patients were lost to follow-up resulting in 23 patients (n = 23) for the current study. Nine patients were tetraplegic and the remaining 14 were paraplegic. Four of the 23 patients had died at follow-up therefore making the number of living patients 19 (n = 19). The total number of ulcers operated on in the current study was 29 (U = 29). Overall, ulcer and patient recurrence rates were 41.4% and 47.8% respectively. Despite this, 89.5% of patients had intact flaps at the time of follow-up. We recommend the use of the hamstring V-Y musculocutaneous flap as a reliable and safe reconstructive modality in the management of ischial pressure sores and by identifying the group of patients susceptible to ulcer recurrence we have proposed a protocol for their long-term follow-up.     

Successful truncated osteomyelitis treatment for chronic osteomyelitis secondary to pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury patients

Time-tested treatments for chronic osteomyelitis involve prolonged courses of costly antibiotic treatment. Although such treatment remains unquestioned in acute osteomyelitis, it is an excessive regiment for chronic osteomyelitis. With appropriate surgical debridement and careful operative care, antibiotic treatment can be truncated in diagnoses of chronic osteomyelitis. This study represents the clinical practice of the pressure ulcer management program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in dealing with this difficult problem. One hundred fifty-seven patients with similar pressure ulcer wounds were studied retrospectively. Three groups of patients with pathologic diagnoses of acute osteomyelitis, chronic osteomyelitis, and negative osteomyelitis were compared for (1) postoperative stay, (2) wound infection, (3) wound breakdown requiring reoperation, and (4) same-site ulcer recurrence. In all cases, shallow bone shavings were sent for diagnosis via histologic study, and deep shavings were also sent to ensure adequate bone debridement and microbiologic study. All ulcers were subsequently closed with muscle and/or myocutaneous flaps. The negative and chronic osteomyelitis groups were treated with 5 to 7 days of IV antibiotics, whereas the acute group underwent a full 6-week course according to bone bacteriological culture and sensitivity. There was no statistical difference between the chronic osteomyelitis group and the control (negative) osteomyelitis group with respect to postoperative stay (70 days for chronic group, 72.4 for control), wound breakdown rate (10.7% for chronic, 10.2% for control), or ulcer recurrence (1.8% for chronic, 4.1 for control). The acute osteomyelitis group incurred longer hospital stays, greater incidence of wound breakdown, and statistically significantly greater ulcer recurrence (78.6 days, 13.2% and 17.0%, respectively). In cases of pressure ulcer management with bony involvement, bone pathologic diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis allows for a shorter antibiotic course with better results when the offending tissue has been adequately debrided and closed with viable tissue flap coverage, than simple long-term (4-6 weeks) antibiotic treatment. Because of the extreme contaminated nature of these wounds, if such therapy works in these patients, it may be applicable to chronic osteomyelitis in more varied contaminated surgical cases involving bone.     

Pressure ulcers in four Indonesian hospitals: prevalence,patient characteristics,ulcer characteristics,prevention and treatment

The objective of this article was to study characteristics of pressure ulcer patients and their ulcers, pressure ulcer preventive and treatment measures in four Indonesian general hospitals. A multicentre cross‐sectional design was applied to assess pressure ulcers and pressure ulcer care in adult patients in medical, surgical, specialised and intensive care units. Ninety‐one of the 1132 patients had a total of 142 ulcers. Half (44·0%) already had pressure ulcers before admission. The overall prevalence of category I–IV pressure ulcers was 8·0% (95% CI 6·4–9·6), and the overall nosocomial pressure ulcer prevalence was 4·5% (95% CI 3·3–5·7). Most pressure ulcer patients had friction and shear problems, were bedfast, had diabetes and had more bedridden days. Most ulcers (42·3%) were category III and IV. One third of the patients had both pressure ulcers and moisture lesions (36·3%) and suffered from pain (45·1%). The most frequently used prevention measures were repositioning (61·5%), skin moisturising (47·3%), patient education (36·3%) and massage (35·2%). Most pressure ulcer dressings involved saline‐impregnated or antimicrobial gauzes. This study shows the complexities of pressure ulcers in Indonesian general hospitals and reveals that the quality of pressure ulcer care (prevention and treatment) could be improved by implementing the recent evidence‐based international guideline.     

The Combination Application of Space Filling and Closed Irrigation Suction in Reconstruction of Sacral Decubitus Ulcer

Dead space and poor drainage are the main reasons for intractable sacral decubitus ulcers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of treatment for sacral decubitus ulcer using space filling through muscle flap and closed irrigation. A total of 22 patients with serious sacral decubitus ulcer were treated with space filling through muscle flap and closed irrigation. After debridement of the decubitus ulcer, the infected areas over the bony prominence and osseous prominences were debrided. We elevated biceps femoris long head or semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscle. Pedicled by proximal part of muscle, the muscle flap was elevated to cover the ischial tuberosity. Transfusion systems of inflow and outflow drainage were placed between the muscle flap and ischial tuberosity. Wound healing and complications were observed. One wound dehiscence healed after secondary suturing. One wound gradually healed by dressing change after 3 weeks. The other cases had good results. Space filling and closed irrigation were complementary. The use of these two methods simultaneously is useful for the management of sacral decubitus ulcers.Key words: Sacral pressure ulcers, Closed irrigation, Muscle flap, Space fillingSacral pressure ulcers, especially grades III and IV, rarely respond to conservative treatment.^1,2 The thorough surgical debridement needed to remove necrotic tissues often leaves a large cavity, in addition to the already existing soft-tissue defect. A large cavity will lead to poor drainage, which will increase infection and lead to operation failure.^3–5 Closed irrigation combined with space filling can effectively obliterate the dead space and produce full drainage. However, there have been no reports concerning the use of these two methods simultaneously for 24 hours. This is a report of the clinical results of the combined method. Clinically, it is exceptionally effective, in a comparatively short time, in wounds that are considered impossible to heal and wounds that are thought to require an extremely long time to heal.     

A review of the surgical management of heel pressure ulcers in the 21st century

Heel ulceration, most frequently the result of prolonged pressure because of patient immobility, can range from the trivial to the life threatening. Whilst the vast majority of heel pressure ulcers (PUs) are superficial and involve the skin (stages I and II) or underlying fat (stage III), between 10% and 20% will involve deeper tissues, either muscle, tendon or bone (stage IV). These stage IV heel PUs represent a major health and economic burden and can be difficult to treat. The worst outcomes are seen in those with large ulcers, compromised peripheral arterial supply, osteomyelitis and associated comorbidities. Whilst the mainstay of management of stage I‐III heel pressure ulceration centres on offloading and appropriate wound care, successful healing in stage IV PUs is often only possible with surgical intervention. Such intervention includes simple debridement, partial or total calcanectomy, arterial revascularisation in the context of coexisting peripheral vascular disease or using free tissue flaps. Amputation may be required for failed surgical intervention, or as a definitive first‐line procedure in certain high‐risk or poor prognosis patient groups. This review provides an overview of heel PUs, alongside a comprehensive literature review detailing the surgical interventions available when managing such patients.     

Anaesthesia for reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive surgery is aimed at the restoration of shape and function following tissue loss due to trauma, oncological surgery, burns and infection. Techniques range from simple primary wound closure at the bottom to complex microvascular free tissue transfer at the top rung of the reconstructive ladder.Free flap surgery involves separation of the flap from its original vascular supply and microvascular reanastomosis at a distant site and is associated with substantial transient ischaemia of the transferred tissue. Anaesthetic management plays an important role in successful free flap surgery.All factors promoting vasoconstriction need to be eliminated in order to facilitate blood flow through the transferred tissue.In this respect, maintenance of an adequate arterial blood pressure, normothermia and normocarbia, institution of moderate hypervolaemic haemodilution and effective pain management are the main principles.In spite of studies describing the effects of particular drugs on the microcirculation no single ideal anaesthetic agent has yet been identified for this type of surgery.Free flap failure occurs mainly during the first 48 hours postoperatively with venous thrombosis being more common than arterial occlusion. Prompt surgical revision is the mainstay of flap salvage. The overall success rate of microvascular free tissue transfer in high volume centres exceeds 90%.     

Risk factors for recurrent pressure ulcers after reconstructive surgery: A retrospective study in a single medical centre

Recurrence of pressure ulcers following reconstructive surgery occurs frequently, causing a significant burden on the patient and the public health care system. We assessed risk factors for the recurrence of pressure ulcers based on the experience of a single surgeon at our medical centre. We retrospectively analysed patients admitted to our medical centre with stage III and IV pressure ulcers who underwent reconstructive surgery. The hospital database was searched for patients diagnosed with pressure ulcers who underwent reconstructive surgery. Patient characteristics analysed included age, sex, cause and location of defect, comorbidities, lesion size, wound reconstruction methods, operation time, debridement times, duration of hospital stay, and wound complications. Recurrence and mortality rates were retrospectively examined. One hundred and eighty-nine patients were enrolled, and 166 patients with 176 pressure ulcers met our inclusion criteria. All 14 recurrences (7.95%) were followed for at least 1 year. Logistic regression analysis indicated that recurrence was associated with albumin levels (P = 0.001) and wound size (P = 0.043); however, no association was found for body mass index, bacterial profile, comorbidities, localisation, previous surgery, operation time, or time to admission for reconstruction. In conclusion, higher albumin levels were associated with lower recurrence rates in patients who underwent reconstructive surgery.     

Bilateral cheek-to-nose advancement flap: an alternative to the paramedian forehead flap for reconstruction of the nose

Skin cancer on the nose is commonly treated with surgical excision resulting in defects that require closure. The surgeon is faced with many reconstructive options. The paramedian forehead flap is one commonly used technique. In this study we describe the bilateral cheek-to-nose advancement flap as an alternative to the paramedian forehead flap in patients with strong nasolabial folds and prominent cheek tissue laxity, who require closure of MOHS surgery defects on the nasal dorsum and sidewall. Twelve patients were treated with the latter flap and evaluated after 2 weeks and 6 months. The patients' subjective and the surgeons' objective evaluation after 6 months were either completely satisfied or satisfied. The bilateral cheek-to-nose advancement flap is a reliable tool in the interventional portfolio of the reconstructive surgeon.     

Surgical reconstructive procedures for treatment of ischial,sacral and trochanteric pressure ulcers

Background

Pressure ulcers are frequent complications for long term hospitalized bed-ridden patients which are not able to move or move very little. In fact, the lesion forms in a skin and muscle region which undergoes a constant pressure between an underlying bone protrusion and a support structure such as a bed or a wheelchair. Initially only the outer layers are involved but in time, the ulcer can spread to the deeper structures and reach the bone.

Patients and methods

In our work we described the anatomical areas that are most often subject to developing a pressure ulcer and we considered the surgical treatment and reconstructive procedures which are applied using a logical and rigorous sequence.

Results

We considered 4 clinical cases (2 ischiatic sores, 1 sacral sore and 1 gluteal-trochanteric sore) which demonstrate the surgical treatment and the reconstructive pro-cedures.

Conclusions

It is crucial to cover the defects with a thick flap to give more support and protection to the areas which undergo pressure and to lower the incidence of recurrences.     

Management of pelvic heterotopic ossification post-myocutaneous flap reconstruction of a sacral pressure ulcer

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a process whereby lamellar bone forms in the soft tissues surrounding a joint. The most common type of HO is traumatic myositis ossificans, which develops following traumatic injuries, burns or arthroplasty. A variety of other forms of HO also exist, such as those associated with central nervous system injury and systemic forms that can manifest at other joints simultaneously. Clinically, patients can present with decreased range of motion, pressure ulcers, nerve compression, swelling, pain or asymptomatically. Symptomatic patients are most commonly treated with surgical debridement of the affected heterotopic deposits.Spinal dysraphism (SD) is a term describing a wide range of congenital malformations of the neural tube, ranging from spina bifida occulta to the more severe form, myelomeningocele. The cause of SD is multifactorial and has been associated with chromosomal disorders, teratogenic exposure and folate deficiency. Many patients with SD experience neuropathy below the affected neurological level, making them particularly susceptible to pressure ulcers. If these ulcers are severe and do not respond to conservative therapy, they often require surgical debridement and flap reconstruction – a clinical scenario that rarely results in HO.The present article describes a case involving a patient with pelvic HO following myocutaneous flap reconstruction of a pressure ulcer. The patient was successfully treated with oral bisphosphonate and aggressive physiotherapy.     

Reliability of free-flap coverage in diabetic foot ulcers

As microsurgery advances, microsurgical free-tissue transfers have become the reconstructive method of choice over staged or primary amputation, and enabling independent ambulation in difficult lower-extremity wounds. In this report, we present our experiences with free-tissue transfer for the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in 13 diabetic foot ulcers. Following radical debridement, soft-tissue reconstruction was achieved in the following ways: anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap in 5 patients, radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap in 3 patients, lateral arm fasciocutaneous flap in 1 patient, gracilis musculocutaneous flap in 1 patient, tensor fascia latae flap in 1 patient, deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in 1 patient, and a parascapular flap in the remaining patient. In 8 cases, diabetic wounds were in the foot, while wounds were at the level of the lower leg in the remaining patients. In all patients, vascular patency was confirmed by the Doppler technique. In suspicious cases, arteriography was then performed. While all flaps survived well in the postoperative period, one patient died from cardiopulmonary problems on postoperative day 16 in an intensive care unit. Amputation was necessary in the early postoperative period because of healing problems. In the remaining 10 cases, all flaps survived intact. In one case, arterial revision was performed successfully. The ultimate limb salvage rate was 83% for the 12 patients. Independent ambulation was achieved in these cases. During the follow-up period of 8 months to 2 years, no ulcer recurrence was noted, and no revascularization or vascular bypass surgery was needed before or after the free-tissue transfers. The authors conclude that free-tissue transfer for diabetic foot ulcers is a reliable procedure, despite pessimistic opinions regarding the flap survival and low limb salvage rates. It should be considered a useful reconstructive option for serious defects in well-selected cases.     

Surgical Management of Pressure Ulcers During Inpatient Neurologic Rehabilitation: Outcomes for Patients With Spinal Cord Disease

Background/Objective: To study efficacy of surgery in the management of pressure ulcers and evaluate the effect of simultaneous comprehensive rehabilitation in improving outcome.

Method: Prospective, follow-up study.

Setting: Neurologic rehabilitation unit of a tertiary care center.

Participants: Patients with spinal cord diseases who had stage lll/IV pressure ulcers underwent surgical reconstruction and inpatient rehabilitation in 2005 with a minimum follow-up duration of 1year. Outcome Measures: Ulcer healing rate, postoperative complications, ulcers recurrence rate, and neurologic (ASIA grade), and functional recovery (Barthel Index).

Statistical Analysis: Frequency analysis and paired t test on SPSS 13.0.

Results: Surgical intervention was carried out in 25 participants (19 men, 6 women), having a total of 39 ulcers (13 Stage III, 23 Stage IV, 3 unstaged). Surgeries performed were debridement (3), split skin grafting (13), and flap mobilization and closure (23). Only 4 participants (16.6%) had initial complications: wound dehiscence (2) and delayed graft healing (2). Follow-up rate was 92.0% (23/25 patients), with a duration of 12 to 21 months (mean, 15.4 ± 7.45 months), and only 4 participants (17.3%) had ulcer recurrence. The majority of participants (13 of 25; 56.5%) improved neurologically on ASIA grade and functional evaluation on Barthel Index, suggesting statistically significant improvement (P < 0.005).

Conclusions: All outcome variables showed significant improvement at follow-up with good ulcer healing rate (87.0%), low initial complication (16.6%) and recurrence rates (17.3%), and good neurologic (56.5%) and functional (P < 0.005) recovery. Timely surgical interventions are necessary for Stage III to IV pressure ulcers, and simultaneous inpatient rehabilitation significantly improves outcome of patients with spinal cord disease.     

Management of sacral pressure sores with a myocutaneous flap

Sacral ulcers usually are caused by pressure leading to pathologic changes in the layers of tissue extending from the skin to the bone. This type of ulcer occurs most commonly in paraplegic or unconscious patients. In a series of 25 patients with sacral pressure sores studied during a one year period of time, the initial management consisted of conservative treatment with excision of the ulcer and daily dressing changes. The results with this method of treatment were satisfactory in ten cases and unsatisfactory in 15 cases. The 15 cases in which the results were unsatisfactory then underwent treatment with operative methods including excision of the ulcer and primary closure, myocutaneous flaps, skin grafting, and transcutaneous skin flaps. In six of ten cases in which a myocutaneous flap was used, the wounds healed satisfactorily. In four cases an infection occurred; in three of these cases the wound healed after infection control, while skin grafting was required for the fourth patient. Overall, the postoperative results with the use of a myocutaneous flap were satisfactory, and the results also were good at follow-up.     

Pressure ulcers. Physical, supportive, and local aspects of management

Pressure ulcers are a common and serious problem predominately among elderly persons who are confined to bed or chair. Additional factors associated with pressure ulcer development include cerebrovascular accident, impaired nutritional intake, urinary or fecal incontinence, hypoalbuminemia, and previous fracture. Implementation of preventive measures, such as an in-depth assessment for mobility, a pressure-relieving device combined with adequate repositioning, and thorough evaluation for nutritional status and urinary incontinence, significantly reduce pressure ulcer incidence. If the pressure ulcer is a partial thickness (stage II) wound, the causative factors are probably friction or moisture. If the ulcer is full thickness (stage III and IV), it is secondary to pressure or shearing forces. The development of wound infection is the most common complication in the management approach. Osteomyelitis is not an uncommon occurrence and must be initially ruled out in all full thickness pressure ulcers. Surgical debridement of necrotic tissue is necessary prior to further treatment and assessments. Antibiotic therapy is indicated only upon evidence of infection (cellulitis, osteomyelitis, leukocytosis, bandemia, or fever). Topical pharmacologic agents may be used to prevent or treat infection but must be carefully controlled to avoid such adverse effects as toxicity to the wound, allergic reaction, and development of resistant pathogens. Proper use of occlusive dressings increase patient comfort, enhance healing, decrease the possibility of infection, save time, and reduce costs. A patient presenting an ulcer that fails to improve or, because of its size, will take a great deal of time to heal should be evaluated for surgical closure.