Module 8 - Pressure Management
Understanding pressure ulcers
Refer to the relevant section of Skin Care and Pressure Area Prevention in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury for more information about the following
- aetiology of a pressure ulcer
- staging of pressure ulcer
- risk factors for skin breakdown common to all phases of care
- pressure risk intervention guide
- determining the cause of a pressure ulcer
What to do when someone has a pressure area
- Refer to relevant section of Skin Care and Pressure Area Prevention in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury for the management of skin in acute, rehabilitation and community settings
Note:
- avoid positioning the client directly on a pressure ulcer
- refer to "SSCIS return to Seating Protocol©, Post Plastic Surgery/Healed Pressure Ulcer"
- refer to relevant professionals to address arising issues such as wound management, nutrition, care hours and equipment
Consultation with, or referral to, the Spinal Seating Services is indicated for those who have non-healing "sitting acquired/related" pressure areas, or have a history of recurrent pressure ulcers.
- Advance technologies such as interface pressure mapping or pads are available as additional assessment and intervention tools to assess areas of concern and to provide comparative assessment to trial support surfaces such as cushions.
- Custom design, fabrication or modification may be required when commercial products are not able to achieve the desired outcome.
As posture has an interlocking effect on pressure, consultation with the Spinal Seating Services to assess pressure is warranted if the client had significant asymmetrical postural changes and requires a new seating and mobility system.