Pressure sores

What is a pressure sore?

This definition of a pressure ulcer is taken from the wound care communications network. ‘Pressure ulcers are red areas of sores on the skin.’ They are also called bed sores, pressure sores, and decubitus ulcers. They can occur over any bony part of the body, but for the wheelchair bound, the ischial tuberosities and sacrum are the major risk areas. There are four degrees, or stages, of severity of pressure sores with the most severe causing tissue necrosis, or damage to muscle, bone or supporting structure.

What causes pressure sores?

Pressure sores occur when lying or sitting in one place for too long. The skin needs blood and oxygen to get nutrients. Pressure on the skin blocks the blood supply. If the blood supply is blocked for a long time, a red area may be seen over a bony part of the body. If the pressure is NOT removed, the red area will turn into a pressure ulcer or sore. Pressure sores can be caused by a lack of blood supply in less than two hours.

Preventing pressure sores

Pressure sores can be prevented by moving or lifting while in the wheelchair. According to physicians, preventing pressure sores is best accomplished by relieving pressure over the bony area.

For many people in a wheelchair shifting ones weight is a difficult task. Many people simply don’t have the physical ability to lift themselves up to provide this essential pressure relief. For others it may be difficult to remember to perform pressure relief.

This is where the Airpulse PK Cushion system can help.

The Airpulse PK Cushion system will automatically change your pressure contact points and give true pressure relief so you don’t have to worry about performing pressure lifts if you are not able to do them.

One unique feature of the Airpulse PK is the cycle time control. It gives you complete control over the amount of time you are performing pressure relief to either section of the cushion.

An interesting fact about pressure sores

Dr. Koziak , who is considered to be the father of modern pressure sore research found that very high pressure over a short period of time was just as dangerous for developing ulcers as lower pressure over a longer period of time. This is a very important point to consider when looking into other alternating pressure systems.

The interface pressures achieved by using the Airpulse PK are a range of under 20 mmHg or less to 100 mmHg so you are NEVER subjected to dangerously high pressures. The pressure level required to actually provide pressure relief is 30 mmHg. At this pressure blood is allowed to enter the tissue. Don't confuse pressure reduction with true pressure relief.

Guidelines for preventing pressure sores

 (This according to a Mayo Clinic community Internal Medicine Division Report)

For chair-bound individuals doctors have recommended the following steps:

• Inspect skin at least once a day

• Shift weight every 15 minutes

• Use a pressure-reducing device for seating surfaces

• Do not use donut shaped devices

• Consider postural alignment, distribution of weight, balance and stability, and pressure relief when positioning in a wheelchair

• Again, the Airpulse PK Cushion system is an important device that will help in 3 of the above- mentioned action steps.

Preventing pressure sores

One way of predicting the occurrence of a pressure sore is by using the Braden scale (1). This scale outlines 6 items, which can be taken into account. The Airpulse PK addresses 2 of these 6 items, moisture and mobility.

Proper posture in the sitting position is followed by using the 90- degree rule to distribute pressure on the gluteal region to the posterior aspect of the femoral region.

An article written by B.J. Braden:clinical utility of the Braden scale for predicting pressure sore risk,Decubitus 2(3):44-51, 1989

If you have ever had a pressure sore you understand the hardships associated with them. We have designed our cushion systems to help eliminate or prevent the occurrence of pressure sores so you will not have to go through those hardships. Aquila offers two cushion systems that are also extremely helpful in facilitating the healing and prevention of pressure sores.

We offer a fully automatic system, the Airpulse PK, for those people that are at highest risk of developing pressure sores.

We also offer the Custom Air, a manually inflated and adjustable cushion for those people who are not at "high risk" of developing pressure sores. (See products page)

Aquila seating products come with rock solid proof of their superior pressure relieving qualities in the form of pressure maps. Take a look at our pressure maps page to see these amazing results.

Here is an example of a pressure map taken of a 175 LB male patient while sitting on the Airpulse PK.  Deflated cells (white area of pressure map) show 0-15 mmHg of pressure. Studies have shown that 32mmHg of pressure or less is required to allow blood flow into compressed tissue. The results achieved with the Airpulse PK are far better than the 32mmHg threshold.