title: The Effect of a Liner on the Dispersion of Sacral Interface Pressures During Spinal Immobilization.
abstract: Sacral pressure ulcers are a significant problem following spinal cord injury and are felt to be in part due to the high interface-pressures generated while strapped to the spine board. The objective of this study was to determine sacral interface-pressure and sensing area in healthy volunteers on a spine board and the effects of a gel pressure dispersion liner. Thirty-seven volunteers were placed on a pressure-sensing mat between the subject and the spine board. Measurements were carried out with and without a gel liner. Pressures and sensing area were recorded every minute for 40 minutes. The highest pressure was generated at the sacral prominence of each subject. Mean interface-pressures were higher on the spine board alone than with the gel liner (p < .0001). Overall, mean sensing area was lower on the spine board than with the gel liner (p < .0001). Standard spinal immobilization causes high sacral interface-pressures. The addition of a gel liner on the spine board decreased overall mean sacral pressures and increased mean sensing area. Generation of sacral pressure ulcers may be related to the initial interface-pressures generated while the patient is strapped to the spine board. The addition of a gel liner may reduce the incidence of sacral pressure ulcers.
authors.affiliation: a MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio , Cleveland , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nemunaitis
authors.forename: Mary Joan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: Jennifer Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.forename: Mohamed Samir
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hefzy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012447:Sacrum / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D058254:Stretchers; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005782:Gels
keywords: backboard; gel liner; pressure; pressure ulcer; spinal cord injury; time