Purpose
A retrospective descriptive study was performed to develop strategies to manage or prevent pressure ulcers in patients with severe trauma being cared for in the trauma intensive care unit (TICU).
Methods
Study data was compiled from 315 patients with severe trauma (injury severity score ≥ 15) who were admitted to a general hospital from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021 and were being cared for in the TICU. For patients with pressure ulcers, the characteristics and associated factors of pressure ulcers were examined.
Results
There were 42 severe trauma patients (13.3%) with pressure ulcers, of which, 50.0% of cases occurred at the site of the coccyx. In 50% of patients, Stage 2 pressure ulcers were observed. The mean onset day of pressure ulcers was 9.74 days after admission. The occurrence of diabetes, critical care triage score, length of stay in intensive care, death, shock, dialysis, ventilator application, endotracheal intubation, peripheral insertion central catheter insertion, A-line insertion, body protector application, sedatives, blood pressure boosters, nasal cannula, high-flow oxygenators, oxygen tip application, drainage insertion, nasogastric tube nutrition, and ventilator application period were investigated. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the influencing factors for the development of pressure ulcers were endotracheal intubation, length of stay in the TICU, and age, in that order.
Conclusion
By identifying the characteristics and risk factors associated with pressure ulcers in patients with severe trauma, strategies can be developed to better prevent or manage pressure ulcers in the future.

Citations

• The effect of extended early rehabilitation on the treatment outcome of patients with moderate and severe traumatic brain injury
  Nataša Keleman, Dragana Dragičević-Cvjetković, Aleksandra Mikov, Dragomir Radošević, Ðula Ðilvesi, Vladimir Mrđa, Rastislava Krasnik
  Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Yoğun Bakım Hastalarında Basınç Yaralanmalarının Önlenmesinde Hemşirenin Rolü: Risk Faktörleri, Girişimler ve Klinik Uygulamalar
  Mehmet Dalkılıç, Ferzan Kalayci Emek, Özlem Bilik
  Bingöl Üniversitesi Sağlık Dergisi.2025; 6(2): 273.     CrossRef

Purpose:

This study identifies risks for pressure ulcer in patients admitted to surgical intensive care units because of severe traumatic injuries with injury severity scores of 15 or higher.

Methods:

Data was collected from records of patients admitted from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2013. The analysis addressed general characteristics, trauma-related characteristics, and treatment-related characteristics of pressure ulcers. Descriptive statistics include the raw numbers, percentages, and the standard deviations. Hypothesis tests including t-tests, chi-square tests, and multi-regression analyses were performed using SPSS ver.dow 12.0.

Results:

Two hundred and fifty-nine patients were admitted to surgical intensive care units with severe trauma injuries. Of those, 44 patients (17.0%) had a pressure ulcer. The mean pressure ulcer duration was 8.4 days. The most common pressure ulcer was the second phase ulcer at 51.9%. Risk factors were found to be age (p<0.001), shock (p<0.021), and the fixture device (p<0.020).

Conclusion:

Early nursing interventions are necessary to prevent a pressure ulcer in patients with severe trauma injuries admitted to surgical intensive care units.

Citations

• Characteristics of and Risk Factors for Medical Device-Related Pressure Injuries in Trauma Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Case–Control Study
  Jong Eun Hyun, Seul Ki Park
  Western Journal of Nursing Research.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Characteristics and Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers in Severe Trauma Patients Admitted to the Trauma Intensive Care Unit
  Seung-yeon Lim, Young-min Jeong, So-young Jeong
  Journal of Acute Care Surgery.2023; 13(2): 47.     CrossRef
• Risk Factors Associated With Pressure Ulcers in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit
  Jeong Eun Yoon, Ok-Hee Cho
  Clinical Nursing Research.2022; 31(4): 648.     CrossRef
• Predictive Validity of Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scales among Patients in a Trauma Intensive Care Unit
  Ja Eun Choi, Sun-Kyung Hwang
  Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing.2019; 12(2): 26.     CrossRef