Elevated sacral skin temperature (T(s)): a risk factor for pressure ulcer development in hospitalized neurologically impaired Thai patients.
Pressure ulcer incidence and sacral skin temperature (T(s)) were measured in hospitalized neurologically impaired Thai patients ( n = 17) positioned supine and then laterally. Pressure ulcer incidence within 2 weeks of admission was 47%. Regardless of reclining position, mean sacral T(s) in subjects who developed a pressure ulcer was higher ( p < .01) than those who did not develop an ulcer. The data suggest that T(s) may increase at least 1.2 degrees C 24-96 hr before sacral pressure ulcer development. Sacral T(s) may be an objective predictor of sacral pressure ulcer development in hospitalized neurologically impaired Thai patients.
Sae-Sia
Wipa
W
Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Wipke-Tevis
Deidre D
DD
Williams
Donna A
DA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology