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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at high risk for pressure ulcers (PUs) throughout their lifetime due to decreased mobility and lack of sensation coupled with other physiologic changes. The high prevalence and recurrence rates, and costs associated with PUs in veterans with SCI indicate the need for a reliable and practical method of detecting early PUs. In a pilot study with older nursing home (NH) residents sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) predicted erythema and stage I PUs at the sacrum and buttocks locations. If the findings are similar in veterans with SCI, the device would facilitate early detection and intervention and may prevent serious PUs.
OBJECTIVE(S):
To assess the feasibility of obtaining biophysical measures of SEM using a dermal phase meter to predict PUs in veterans with SCI. Our immediate objectives are to: 1) describe the relationship between SEM and stage 1 PUs in veterans with SCI, 2) assess the sensitivity of various anatomic locations to SEM measures, and 3) test the relationship between SEM measurement intervals and stage 1 PUs.
METHODS:
Prospective observational pilot study to evaluate the relationship between SEM, visual skin assessment (VSA), and stage I PUs in veterans with SCI.
This two-site pilot study will enroll 40 veterans with SCI residing in or receiving care at Hines or Long Beach VAMC. Brief structured interviews, VSAand SEM measures of each subjects' pelvic area will be conducted weekly (Long Beach) or daily (Hines) for 16 weeks.
FINDINGS/RESULTS:
This is a new project and results have not yet been obtained.
IMPACT:
This study will inform a larger study to more fully evaluate SEM use in veterans with SCI as a basis for prevention of PUs.
PUBLICATIONS:
None at this time.
DRA:
Chronic Diseases
DRE:
Quality of Care, Rehabilitation, Prevention
Keywords:
Risk factors, Spinal cord injury
MeSH Terms:
none
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