Pressure Injuries and Management after Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can lead to pressure injuries due to motor paralysis and sensory loss, making individuals highly vulnerable. Comorbidities from autonomic, cardiovascular, and other system dysfunctions further increase the likelihood of these injuries. Prevention strategies involve early education on pressure relief and proper support. When a pressure injury occurs, multidisciplinary intervention is essential. This includes identifying and addressing the cause, psychosocial support, complete pressure relief, optimized nutrition, and minimizing wound bioburden. Surgical intervention with myofasciocutaneous flaps might be necessary in some cases. Complications such as infection, sepsis, autonomic dysreflexia, and spasticity can make pressure injuries particularly dangerous for individuals with SCI. The societal cost of managing these wounds can be substantial, exceeding USD $11 billion annually.

• 1
  Individuals with complete SCI are 4.5 times more likely to acquire a pressure injury during acute hospitalization than those with incomplete SCI. This highlights the increased vulnerability associated with more severe spinal cord injuries.
• 2
  Darker-skinned patients are at higher risk of developing pressure injuries, potentially due to the difficulty in identifying non-blanching erythema, a precursor to skin breakdown. This underscores the importance of awareness and appropriate assessment in diverse populations.
• 3
  Hospital-acquired pressure injuries are a significant financial burden, costing over USD 11 billion annually in the U.S. This emphasizes the need for efficient prevention practices in healthcare settings.