Gélis A, Dupeyron A, Legros P, Benaïm C, Pelissier J, Fattal C, et al.
Spinal cord. Date of publication 2009 Sep 1;volume 47(9):651-61.
1. Spinal Cord. 2009 Sep;47(9):651-61. doi: 10.1038/sc.2009.32. Epub 2009 Apr 7.
Pressure ulcer risk factors in persons with spinal cord injury part 2: the
chronic stage.
Gélis A(1), Dupeyron A, Legros P, Benaïm C, Pelissier J, Fattal C.
Author information:
(1)Département de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Centre
Hospitalo-Universitaire Caremeau, Nîmes, France. Anthony_gelis@yahoo.fr
INTRODUCTION: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common complication following spinal
cord injury (SCI). Prevalence for persons in the chronic SCI stage varies between
15 and 30%. The risk assessment scales used nowadays were designed on
pathophysiological concepts and are not SCI-specific. Recently, an
epidemiological approach to PU risk factors has been proposed for designing an
SCI-specific assessment tool. The first results seem quite disappointing,
probably because of the level of evidence of the risk factors used.
OBJECTIVE: To determine PU risk factors correlated to the chronic stage of SCI.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic review of the literature.
RESULTS: There are several PU risk factors for chronic SCI stage:
socio-demographics, neurological, medical or behavioral. The level of evidence
varies: it is quite high for the socio-demographics and neurological factors and
low for behavioral factors.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Behavioral risk factors (relieving the pressure,
careful skin monitoring, smoking) are probably the ones for which a preventive
strategy can be established. It is important to develop specific assessment tools
for these behavioral risk factors to determine their relevance and evaluate the
effect of therapeutic educational programs on persons with SCI.
DOI: 10.1038/sc.2009.32
PMID: 19350047 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
