title: Spinal cord injury pressure ulcer treatment: an experience-based approach.
abstract: Pressure ulcers continue to impact the lives of spinal cord injury patients severely. Pressure ulcers must be accurately staged according to National Pressure Ulcer Advisory recommendations before treatment design. The first priority in treatment of pressure ulcers is offloading. Intact skin ulcers may be treated with noncontact nonthermal low-frequency ultrasound. Superficial pressure ulcers may be treated with a combination of collagenase and foam dressings. Deeper pressure ulcers warrant negative-pressure wound therapy dressings along with biologic adjuncts to fill in wound depth. Discovery and treatment of osteomyelitis is a high priority when initially evaluating pressure ulcers. Surgical intervention must always be considered.
authors: Physical Medicine and Wound Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Miami VA Hospital, 1C, 1201 Northwest 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, PO Box 016960 (D-461), Miami, FL 33101, USA. Electronic address: gabriel.sunn@gmail.com.
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Sunn
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Pressure ulcer; Pressure ulcer treatment; Spinal cord injury; Wound dressing; Wound healing