Positioning, Ergonomics and Pressure Sores Flashcards
Septicemia
A serious bloodstream infection. Occurs when a bacterial infection elsewhere in the body, such as the skin, enters the bloodstream. This is dangerous because the bacteria and their toxins can be carried through to entire body.
Reasons older populations develop skin problems
- Reduced sensitivity of immune system
- Reduced sebum secretion (dry, itchy skin)
- Less melanin production (sensitive to sun)
- Delayed wound healing
- Sensory receptors diminish in capacity
- Skin weakens, collagen loss, decreased elasticity
- Reduced efficiency of sweat glands/dermal blood supply
- Vascularity decreases in subcutaneous tissue (less pressure stops blood flow)
Substances that have negative affects when applied on older skin
- Alkaline soaps (reduces skin thickness; alters pH)
- Alcohol and Acetone (dehydrate skin)
- Starches (reduce protective barrier)
Areas where most pressure ulcers occur
Over major weight-bearing body parts such as sacrum, heels and ischial tuberosities (sit bones).
Classification of Pressure Ulcers
Grade 1: Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin; discoloration; warmth; edema; hardness
Grade 2: Partial-thickness skin loss; superficial ulcer; abrasion/blister
Grade 3: Full-thickness skin loss; may extend down to—not through—underlying fascia
Grade 4: Extensive destruction; tissue necrosis; damage to muscle/bone/supporting structures; with/without full-thickness skin loss
Tissue Tolerance
Amount of pressure an individual can withstand before capillary occlusion. Reduced by: • Low blood pressure • Malnutrition • Sustained pressure • Patient immobility
Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers
- Older age
- Incontinence
- Poor skin hygiene
- Immobility
- Impaired nutrition/hydration
- Altered consciousness
- Sensory impairment
- Comorbidity
- Acute/Long-term/Terminal illness
- Previous pressure damage
Problems that occur when sitting/lying without moving much
(in order of severity):
• Pressure sores
• Skin breakdown
• Decubitus ulcers
of Deaths in US Yearly Related to Hospital-Acquired Pressure Uclers?
60,000 yearly
Mortality rate 2-6x higher than those without pressure ulcers
% of New Nursing Home Pts with Pressure Sore
11-56%
Role of OT in Pressure Sores
- Decide if Pt is at risk
- Come up with solutions to prevent breakdown in advance
- If already breakdown, come up with solutions to heal
- Allow for most functional performance of ADLs
Schematic for OT Prevention/tx of Pressure Ulcers
1) Risk assessment and Skin assessment
2) Record the assessment
3) Develop a care plan
4) OT intervention (education, positioning, moisture, nutrition, etc.)
5) Reassessment
* * Return to Step 1
Risk Assessment – Person
- Previous skin breakdown
- Sensory impairment
- Decreased consciousness (meds?)
- Cognition (self-advocating?)
- Pain (meds?)
- Psycho-emotional status
- Mobility
- Skeletal deformity (protrusions? Scoliosis?)
- Posture
- Nutrition/Hydration
- Incontinence
- Positioning preference (sleeping position?)
- Age
Risk Assessment – Environment
- Pressure*
- Shear*
- Friction*
- Moisture
- Socio-economic status
- Support surfaces over 24-hr period
*Biggest risk factors
Risk Assessment – Skin
- Persistent erythema (redness)
- Non-blanching redness
- Blisters
- Localized heat/coolness
- Localized induration (hardening)
- Localized edema
- Purplish/bluish localized area (bruise)
- Skin breakdown
**On darker skin, may not see all signs; look for discoloration, temp, raised areas
Bony Prominences most likely to have skin breakdown
- Sacrum
- Ischium
- Iliac crest
- Rib Cage
- Elbows
- Trochanters
- Knees
- Heels
- Toes
- T1 vertebra
- Back of head
Scales to Predict Pressure Ulcer Risk
Norton Scale – 1962 – scores 5-20, with 14 indicating risk
**Braden Scale – 1980s – replaced Norton Scale and is still most widely-used; Score 6-23, with lower scores at-risk starting around 16-18
Waterlow Scale – 1987 – Never took off. Score betw 4-40, higher scores 10+ = at risk