OBJECTIVE To assess the relevance of pulse pressure as a predictor of foot ulcers in type 2 diabetic subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A cohort study was performed on a consecutive series of 1,945 type 2 diabetic outpatients without a foot ulcer at baseline. Incident foot ulcers were identified through the regional hospital discharge system, which contains ICD codes of current diagnoses. ...

This project was conducted in an Australian rural base hospital. It compared the Norton and Waterlow pressure ulcer risk assessment scales with an informal nurse assessment via a prevalence and an incidence study of inpatients. This study, more a pilot study due to the small sample size, suggests that the pressure ulcer prevalence and incidence within this Australian hospital was comparable to ...

INTRODUCTION Pressure ulceration is a common problem for long-term bedridden patients and individuals with traumatic paraplegia. Necrotizing fasciitis can be a life-threatening complication caused by pressure ulcers, especially for debilitated elderly patients. In this report, we describe the successful use of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation to treat severe complex pressure ul...

Conducted in a 77-bed long-term-care facility, this study compared the costs of implementing an intensive pressure ulcer prevention protocol plus the calculated costs of treatment before and after implementing the protocol. A total of 69 patients comprised the preprotocol sample; 16 of them developed 26 ulcers. The postprotocol sample consisted of 63 patient, 3 of whom developed 5 ulcers. The 6...

PRESSURE ULCERS REMAIN A COMmon problem in all health care settings. It is estimated that 1.3 million to 3 million adults have a pressure ulcer, with an estimated cost of $500 to $40000 to heal each ulcer. The incidence of pressure ulcers varies greatly by clinical setting. Incidence rates of 0.4% to 38.0% for hospitals, 2.2% to 23.9% for long-term care, and 0% to 17% for home care have been re...

Pressure ulcers classified as Stage IV (according to National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel staging guidelines) [1] take a long time to heal, and may cause serious infections, such as osteomyelitis and sepsis [2-5]. Thus, they usually require surgical repair using a muscle or fasciocutaneous flap (according to International Guidelines). Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Quick Reference Guide) Glute...

The prevalence of heel ulcers across settings is high and is increasing. Prevention of ulcers requires knowledge of their etiology and the scientific basis for preventive care. The interaction between external pressure and the heel vasculature is central to the prevention of heel ulcers. This article focuses on the prevention of heel pressure ulcers. The physiology of heel tissue perfusion, the...

AIM The aim of this study was to describe the accuracy and quality of nursing documentation of the prevalence, risk factors and prevention of pressure ulcers, and compare retrospective audits of nursing documentation with patient examinations conducted in nursing homes. DESIGN This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. METHOD A retrospective audit of 155 patients' records and pat...

Pressure ulcers are one of most dominant problems that occur in patients with mobility limitations. Such wounds can produce pain and deteriorate the underlying condition. Sometimes, they can be even vitally threatening, and their treatment can impose financial burden for both patient’s family and society. Pressure ulcers are the consequence of a prolonged pressure on the skin above bone promini...