Impact of pressure ulcers on individuals living with a spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective: To describe the impact of pressure ulcers on the ability to participate in daily and community activities, health care utilization, and overall quality of life in individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Nationwide survey.

Participants: Participants (N=1137) with traumatic SCI who were >1 year postinjury and living in the community were recruited. Of these, 381 (33.5%, 95% confidence interval, 30.8%-36.3%) had a pressure ulcer over the last 12 months.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Measures developed for the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry Community Follow-up Survey Version 2.0.

Results: Of the 381 individuals with pressure ulcers, 65.3% reported that their pressure ulcer reduced their activity to some extent or more. Pressure ulcers reduced the ability of individuals with SCI to participate in 19 of 26 community and daily activities. Individuals with 1 or 2 pressure ulcers were more dissatisfied with their ability to participate in their main activity than those without pressure ulcers (P=.0077). Pressure ulcers were also associated with a significantly higher number of consultations with family doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and wound care nurses/specialists (P<.05).

Conclusions: Pressure ulcers have a significant impact on the daily life of individuals with SCI. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing pressure ulcer prevention and management programs for this high-risk population and require the attention of all SCI-related health care professionals.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Pressure ulcer; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries.