| 159 |
Clinical Research
|
HEEL PRESSURE ULCERS INCIDENCE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS UNDERGOING ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES First Author: Karen Campbell Authors: Karen E Campbell RN, MScN, PhD(c), ACNP, (UH); M Gail Woodbury PhD, Pamela Houghton BScPT, PhD, London Health Sciences Center-University Hospital, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of people who develop pressure ulcers on their heels after orthopaedic procedure in an acute care facility. Patients at academic tertiary acute care (UH) undergoing orthopaedic surgery of lower extremity due to an elective or emergency procedures, were recruited into the study. A direct heel skin assessment was done at admission and near discharge (average length of stay = 5Ð7 day), to determine the presence and severity (NPUAP staging) of pressure heel ulcers. Subjects had to be ulcer free on both heels on admission to be included. Subjects (n=50) who underwent emergency surgery for a hip fracture and 150 individuals undergoing elective orthoapaedic procedures were screened. Individuals with hip fracture tended to be older (79.6 years) than subjects undergoing elective orthopedic procedure (66.6years). Both elective and hip fracture groups had high proportion of females, 68% and 72.3% respectively. Estimated incidence of heel pressure ulcers in the elective and hip fracture group were similar at 13.0%, and 14.2% respectively. Percentage of ulcers that were Stage I was 78.6% for elective subjects and 85.7% for hip fractures. No Stage III or IV ulcers were found. All ulcers in the hip fracture group were identified in the first 25 patients recruited into the study. In conclusion, there is a high incidence of heel ulcers in elderly patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery of the lower extremity. |
|