Skip to main content

Abstract

About 9 per cent of patients in British hospitals today suffer from pressure sores (Barbenel et ai, 1977), but the incidence rises steeply with age, reaching 20 per cent in those over 70 years (Norton et ai, 1975, Jordan et ai, 1976). The highest incidence occurs in elderly patients with fractured neck of femur (66 per cent) (Versluysen, 1986). In orthopaedic and geriatric wards, 30–50 per cent of patients are likely either to have pressure sores or to require special management to prevent them (Hibbs, 1982). The prevalence of sores in the community is generally lower than in hospital, but is similar in patients with similar degrees of disability (Jordan, 1979).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anonymus (1988). Honey provides sweet cure for wounds. New Scientist, 119, 1620, 36

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbenel, J. C. (1984). Movements of paraplegic patients in wheelchairs. Care, Science and Practice, 3, 2, 60–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbenel, J. C, Jordan, M. M., Nicol, S. M. and Clark, M. O. (1977). Incidence of pressure sores in the Greater Glasgow Health Board Area. Lancet, 2, 548–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, S. E. (1987). Histology of the human pressure sore. Care, Science and Practice, 5, 2, 13–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, A. A. (1970). The pathogenesis and inhibition of pressure sores. MD Thesis, University of London

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, A. and Barton, M. (1978). The management and prevention of pressure sores. Faber, London and Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Bliss, M. R. (1979). The use of Ripple beds in hospitals. Hospital and Health Services Review, 74, 190–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Bliss, M. R., McLaren, R. and Exton-Smith, A. N. (1967). Preventing pressure sores in hospital: controlled trial of a large celled Ripple mattress. British Medical Journal, 1, 394–397

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, S. S. and Leaper, D. J. (1985). The effect of antiseptics on the healing wound: a study using the rabbit ear chamber. British Journal of Surgery, 72, 780–782

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh, D., Beazley, J. and Ostapowicze, F. (1970). Radical operation for carcinoma of the vulva - a new approach to wound healing. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth, 77, 1037–1040

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chrisp, M. (1977). New treatment for pressure sores. Nursing Times, 73, 1203–1205

    Google Scholar 

  • Exton-Smith, A. N., Overstall, P. W., Wedgewood, J. and Wallace, G. (1982). Use of the ‘Airwave system’ to prevent pressure sores in hospital. Lancet, 1, 1288–1290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernie, G. R. and Dornan, J. (1976). The problem of clinical trials with new systems of preventing or healing decubiti. In Kenedi, R. M., Cowden, J. M. and Scales, J. T. (eds), Bedsore Biomechanics, Macmillan Press, London and Basing-stoke, pp. 315–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Graebe, R. H. (1981). Static forces - cushion. Care, Science and Practice, 1, 1, 50–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Guite, H. F., Bliss, M. R., Mainwaring-Burton, R. W., Thomas, J. M. and Drury, P. L. (1988). Hypothesis: posture is one of the determinents of the circadian rhythm of urine flow and electrolyte excretion in elderly female patients. Age and Ageing, 17, 241–248

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guttmann, L. (1976). The prevention and treatment of pressure sores. In Kenedi, R. M., Cowden, J. M. and Scales, J. T. (eds), Bedsore Biomechanics, Macmillan Press, London and Basingstoke, pp. 153–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallbrook, T. and Lammer, E. (1972). Serum zinc and healing of venous leg ulcers. Lancet, 2, 780–782

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hibbs, P. (1982). Pressure sores: a system of prevention. Nursing Mirror, 155, 5, 25–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Husain, T. (1953). An experimental study of some pressure effects on tissues with reference to the bedsore problem. Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology, 66, 347–354 Jordan, M. M. (1979). Report on pressure sores in the elderly. Further information from the survey of the patient community of the Greater Glasgow Health Board Area on 21st January 1976. Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, M. M., Nicol, S. M. and Melrose, A. L. (1977). Report on the incidence of pressure sores in the patient community of the Borders Health Board Area on 13th October 1976. Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, and the Borders Health Board

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller, A. and Shaw, W. (1985). Technique in the surgery of pressure sores. In Lee, B. Y. (ed.), Chronic Ulcers of the Skin, McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 171–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Krouskop, T., Williams, R. and Krebs, M. (1984). The effectiveness of air flotation beds. Care, Science and Practice, 4, 2, 9–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowthian, P. (1977). A review of pressure sore prophylaxis. Nursing Mirror, Suppl., 17 March, vii–xv

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowthian, P. (1983). Nursing aspects of pressure sore prevention. In Barbenel, J. C, Forbes, C. D. and Lowe, G. D. O. (eds), Pressure Sores, Macmillan Press, London and Basingstoke

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowthian, P. (1985). Preventing pressure sores. Nursing Mirror, 160, 25, 18–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Masser, M. R. (1983). An objective comparison of Debrisan with cotton gauze. Care, Science and Practice, 2, 4, 27–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertz, P. M., Marshall, D. A. and Eaglestern, W. H. (1985). Occlusive wound dressings to prevent bacterial invasion and wound infection. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 12, 4, 662–668

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumark, O. W. (1981). Deformation, not pressure, is the prime cause of pressure sores. Care, Science and Practice, 1, 1, 41–43 Norton, D., McLaren, R. and Exton-Smith, A. N. (1975). An Investigation of

    Google Scholar 

  • Geriatric Nursing Problems in Hospital, Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh Poulsen, J., Kristensen, U. N., Brygger, H. E. and Delikaris, P. (1983). Treatment

    Google Scholar 

  • of infected surgical wounds with Varidase. Acta Chirurgica Scandinavia, 149, 3,

    Google Scholar 

  • 245–248 Reswick, J. B. and Rogers, J. (1976). Experience at Ranchos Los Amigos Hospital

    Google Scholar 

  • with devices and techniques to prevent pressure sores. In Kenedi, R. M.,

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowden, J. M. and Scales, J. T. (eds), Bedsore Biomechanics, Macmillan Press, London and Basingstoke, pp. 301–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Roaf, R. (1976). The causation and prevention of bedsores. In Kenedi, R. M., Cowden, J. M. and Scales, J. T. (eds), Bedsore Biomechanics, Macmillan Press, London and Basingstoke, pp. 5–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Scales, J. T. (1982). Pressure sore prevention. Care, Science and Practice, 1, 2, 9–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, W. (1967). Gel support for the prevention of decubitus ulcers. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 28, 283–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Stapleton, M. (1986). Preventing pressure - an evaluation of three products. British Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 6, 2, 23–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Swain, I. (1987). Objective evaluation of patient support surfaces. Paper read at the autumn conference of the Tissue Viability Society at the University of Surrey, Guildford

    Google Scholar 

  • Torrance, C. (1981). Pressure sores - mechanical devices. Nursing Times, 77, 16, 13–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Tribe, C. and Silver, J. R. (1969). Renal Failure in Paraplegia. Pitman, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Versluysen, M. (1986). How elderly patients with femoral neck fracture develop

    Google Scholar 

  • pressure sores in hospital. British Medical Journal, 292, 1311–1313

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. A. B., Williams, R. H. P. and Hughes, L. E. (1977). Foam elastomer dressing in the management of open granulating wounds: experience with 250 patients. British Journal of Surgery, 64, 554–557

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, W. B. (1980). Pressure sores. Sensible precautions which aid prevention. Geriatric Medicine, 10, 2, 9

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 1990 The editor and contributors

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bliss, M. (1990). Geriatric Medicine. In: Bader, D.L. (eds) Pressure Sores - Clinical Practice and Scientific Approach. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10128-3_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10128-3_7

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-10130-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-10128-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics