Pressure Relieving Effect of Adding a Pelvic Well Pad to a Wheelchair Cushion in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury.
10.5535/arm.2018.42.2.270
- Author:
Hyunsoo SHIN
1
;
Junsik KIM
;
Jin Ju KIM
;
Hye Ri KIM
;
Hye Jin LEE
;
Bum Suk LEE
;
Zee A HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Center & Hospital, Seoul, Korea. zeeahan@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Spinal cord injuries;
Pressure ulcer;
Wheelchairs
- MeSH:
Buttocks;
Ischium;
Medical Records;
Pressure Ulcer;
Retrospective Studies;
Spinal Cord Injuries*;
Spinal Cord*;
Wheelchairs*
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2018;42(2):270-276
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To identify the pressure relieving effect of adding a pelvic well pad, a firm pad that is cut in the ischial area, to a wheelchair cushion on the ischium. METHODS: Medical records of 77 individuals with SCI, who underwent interface pressure mapping of the buttock-thigh area, were retrospectively reviewed. The pelvic well pad is a 2.5-cm thick firm pad and has a cut in the ischial area. Expecting additional pressure relief, it can be inserted under a wheelchair cushion. Subjects underwent interface pressure mapping in the subject's wheelchair utilizing the subject's pre-existing pressure relieving cushion and subsequently on a combination of a pelvic well pad and the cushion. The average pressure, peak pressure, and contact area of the buttock-thigh were evaluated. RESULTS: Adding a pelvic well pad, under the pressure relieving cushion, resulted in a decrease in the average and peak pressures and increase in the contact area of the buttock-thigh area when compared with applying only pressure relieving cushions (p < 0.05). The mean of the average pressure decreased from 46.10±10.26 to 44.09±9.92 mmHg and peak pressure decreased from 155.03±48.02 to 131.42±45.86 mmHg when adding a pelvic well pad. The mean of the contact area increased from 1,136.44±262.46 to 1,216.99±255.29 cm². CONCLUSION: When a pelvic well pad was applied, in addition to a pre-existing pressure relieving cushion, the average and peak pressures of the buttock-thigh area decreased and the contact area increased. These results suggest that adding a pelvic well pad to wheelchair cushion may be effective in preventing a pressure ulcer of the buttock area.