Decubitus Ulcers in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury in Different Hospitals of Lahore

Decubitus Ulcers in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury is a debilitating neurological disorder that has a significant economic, social and psychological burden on those who are affected as well as the healthcare system. The spinal cord can be damaged due to either trauma to the cord or its dysfunctions. Pressure injuries are the leading secondary complications in patients with spinal cord injuries. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of decubitus ulcers in patients with spinal cord injuries from different hospitals in Lahore. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study that included a sample of 114 patients with traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury with age ranges from 25 to 55 years from various hospitals in Lahore using non-probability convenient sampling. Written consent was taken from all patients before the collection of data. Pressure ulcer assessment was done using the European pressure ulcer prevalence study questionnaire. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages with the use of bar or pie charts. Results: About 68(59.6%) patients were males and 46(40.4%) were females. This study concluded that 58.9% of patients had decubitus ulcers whether severe or at stage I of pressure ulcers as a secondary complication of spinal cord injury. About 49.9% of participants had the most severe decubitus ulcers mostly on the sacrum which can lead to infection and requires surgical interventions like debridement. Stage I decubitus ulcers were seen on the elbow and back. Conclusion: In the current study, about 58.9% of patients had decubitus ulcers while 49.9% of participants had the most severe decubitus ulcers which require debridement or surgical procedure. More than half of the patients included in this study had one or more pressure ulcers that can be damaging to their health and quality of life.