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Review
. 2013 Nov;36(6):572-85.
doi: 10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000093. Epub 2013 May 21.

Comprehensive management of pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury: current concepts and future trends

Affiliations
Review

Comprehensive management of pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury: current concepts and future trends

Erwin A Kruger et al. J Spinal Cord Med. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury represent a challenging problem for patients, their caregivers, and their physicians. They often lead to recurrent hospitalizations, multiple surgeries, and potentially devastating complications. They present a significant cost to the healthcare system, they require a multidisciplinary team approach to manage well, and outcomes directly depend on patients' education, prevention, and compliance with conservative and surgical protocols. With so many factors involved in the successful treatment of pressure ulcers, an update on their comprehensive management in spinal cord injury is warranted. Current concepts of local wound care, surgical options, as well as future trends from the latest wound healing research are reviewed to aid medical professionals in treating patients with this difficult problem.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
NPUAP guidelines for staging pressure ulcers.

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