dermatologic disorders
Pressure Injuries
Etiology of Pressure Injuries
Risk factorsfor pressure injury include the following: Age > 65 (possibly due to reduced subcutaneous fat, reduced capillary blood flow, and other age-related degenerative changes in skin) ( Etiology references ) Decreased mobility (eg, due to prolonged hospital stay, bed rest, coma, spinal cord injury, sedation, weakness that decreases spontaneous movement, and/or cognitive impairment) Exposure to skin irritants (eg, due to Urinary Incontinence in Adults and/or Impaired capacity for wound healing (eg, due to Overview of Undernutrition ; Impaired sensation Pressure injury has also been reported in children with severe neurologic impairments such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. , the Braden Scale) have been developed to predict risk. The Norton Scale is used to determine whether a patient is at high risk of pressure ulcer development based on the sum of the scores of five criteria: physical condition, mental condition, activity, mobility, and incontinence. The Braden scale is used to assess risk based on the sum of the scores of six categories: sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear ( Etiology references ). Although use of these scales is considered standard care, they have not been shown to result in fewer pressure injuries than skilled clinical assessment alone. Nevertheless, use of a risk assessment scale along with skilled clinical assessment is recommended. 1.Farage MA, Miller KW, Elsner P, Maibach HI: Characteristics of the aging skin.Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle)2(1):5–10, 2013. doi: 10.1089/wound.2011.0356 2.Bergstrom N, Braden BJ, Laguzza A, Holman V: The Braden scale for predicting pressure sore risk.Nurs Res36(4):205–210, 1987. 