Pressure Sores

This definition of a pressure ulcer is taken from the wound care communications network. ‘Pressure ulcers are red areas of sores on the skin’. They are also called bed sores, pressure sores, and decubitus ulcers. They can occur over any bony part of the body, but for the wheelchair bound, the ischial tuberosities and sacrum are the major risk areas. There are four degrees of severity of pressure sores with the most severe causing tissue necrosis, or damage to muscle, bone or supporting structure.

What causes pressure sores?

Pressure ulcers occur when lying or sitting in one place for too long. The skin needs blood and oxygen to get nutrients. Pressure on the skin blocks the blood supply. If the blood supply is blocked for a long time, a red area may be seen over a bony part of the body. Pressure can cause ulcers in less than 2 hours. If the pressure is NOT removed, the red area will turn into a pressure ulcer or sore.

What can be done to keep from getting pressure sores?

Pressure ulcers can be prevented by moving or lifting while in the wheelchair. This simple act of relieving pressure over the bony areas is the best way, according to physicians, to avoid pressure ulcers.

 For many people in a wheelchair shifting ones weight is a difficult task. Many people simply don’t have the physical ability to lift themselves up to provide this essential pressure relief. For others it may be difficult to remember to perform pressure relief.

This is where the Airpulse PK Cushion can help.

The Airpulse PK Cushion will automatically change your pressure contact points and give true pressure relief so you don’t have to worry about performing pressure lifts if you are not able to do them.

One unique feature of the Airpulse cushion is the cycle time control. It gives you complete control over the amount of time you are performing pressure relief to either section of the cushion.

An Interesting Fact About Pressure Sores

Kiosk, who is considered to be the father of modern pressure sore research found that very high pressure over a short period of time was just as dangerous for developing ulcers as lower pressure over a longer period of time. This is a very important point to consider when looking into any other alternating pressure systems.

The interface pressures achieved by using the Airpulse PK are a range of under 20 mmHg or less to 100 mmHg so you are NEVER subjected to dangerously high pressures. The pressure level required to actually provide pressure relief is 30 mmHg. At this pressure blood is allowed to enter the tissue. Don't confuse pressure reduction with true pressure relief.

Guidelines for prevention of pressure sores

 (This according to a Mayo Clinic community Internal Medicine Division Report)

For chair-bound individuals doctors have recommended the following steps:

• Inspect skin at least once a day
• Shift weight every 15 minutes
• Use a pressure-reducing device for seating surfaces
• Do not use donut shaped devices
• Consider postural alignment, distribution of weight, balance and stability, and pressure relief when positioning in a wheelchair
• Again here the Airpulse PK Cushion is an important device that will help in 3 of the above- mentioned action steps.

Prevention of pressure sores

One way of predicting the occurrence of a pressure ulcer is by using the Braden scale (1). This scale outlines 6 items, which can be taken into account. The Airpulse PK addresses 2 of these 6 items, moisture and mobility.

Proper posture in the sitting position is followed by using the 90- degree rule to distribute pressure on the gluteal region to the posterior aspect of the femoral region.

An article written by B.J. Braden:clinical utility of the Braden scale for predicting pressure sore risk,Decubitus 2(3):44-51, 1989

If you have ever had a pressure sore you understand the hardships associated with them. We have designed our cushions to help eliminate the occurrence of pressure sores so you will not have to go through those hardships. Both cushions are also extremely helpful in facilitating the healing of existing sores.

 We offer a fully automatic cushion, the Airpulse PK, for those people that are at highest risk of developing pressure sores.

 We also offer the Custom Air, a cushion that defines custom pressure relief.

This cushion could replace the benefits derived from tilt wheelchairs