Surgical treatment of pressure sores

Abstract 

The purpose of this study was to identify the most common complications and the recurrence rate following surgical correction of pressure sores. A total of 415 decubitus ulcers in 301 patients treated surgically were analyzed. The patients’ ages ranged from 2 to 95 years (mean 40 years). Forty-one percent of the patients were paraplegics. The follow-up period was about 18 months. It was verified that patients with spinal cord injury, those with chronic disease, and those of advanced age are the groups at high risk of pressure sore development. The most common sites of ulcer development were the sacrum, trochanters, ischium, and around the ankle and heels. There was a high rate of recurrence but a low rate of complications.

It was concluded that a successful outcome in pressure sore management depends on an aggressive operation to radically remove the affected tissues including bone prominences, and to secure cover, preferably with a reliable muscle flap whenever possible.