Assessing the feasibility of subepidermal moisture to predict erythema and stage 1 pressure ulcers in persons with spinal cord injury: a pilot study |
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Authors: | Guihan Marylou Bates-Jenson Barbara M Chun Sophia Parachuri Rama Chin Amy S McCreath Heather |
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Institution: | VA SCI QUERI Research Coordinating Center, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, USA. Marylou.guihan@va.gov |
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Abstract: | BackgroundPersons with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at high risk for pressure ulcers (PrUs) throughout their lifetime due to decreased mobility, lack of sensation, and other physiological changes. The high prevalence and recurrence rates, and costs associated with PrUs in veterans with SCI indicate the need for a reliable and practical method of detecting early PrUs.ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of obtaining biophysical measures of sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) using a handheld dermal phase meter to predict PrUs.Design/methodsProspective observational design. Thirty-four veterans at two VA SCI centers (Hines, Long Beach) received daily (n = 12) or weekly (n = 22) SEM and concurrent visual skin assessment (VSA) across nine anatomic locations for up to 6 weeks.Outcome measuresSEM, visual skin assessment (VSA), and stage I PrUs.Findings/resultsSEM was lowest for normal skin (39.3 dermal phase units (DPU), SD = 12.6) and higher for erythema/stage 1 PrUs (40.8 DPU, SD = 10.4) across all anatomic sites. Buttocks SEM were different between normal skin (40.5 DPU, SD = 10.3) and erythema/stage1 PrUs (43.8, SD = 9.5). SEM taken at heels were lower across all skin conditions (normal skin 28.2 DPU; erythema/stage 1 PrUs 34.7 DPU). SEM was taken when generalized edema present was lower than without generalized edema.ConclusionsPreliminary results of using SEM to detect early PrU damage may translate from nursing home (NH) residents to persons with SCI. This study provides a foundation for a larger study to implement and assess SEM use as a method of prevention of PrUs. |
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Keywords: | Spinal cord injuries Pressure ulcer Staging Prevention Prevalence Outcomes Health care costs Physical examination Rehabilitation Physical Wound care |
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