Carbon fibre pad insertion as a method of achieving soft tissue augmentation in order to reduce the liability to pressure sore development in the spinal injury patient.

Twenty patients at the Northern Regional Spinal Injury Unit received carbon fibre implants inserted into the sites of previously closed pressure sores or threatened pressure sores. The most common site was over the ischium, but some have also been inserted at the trochanteric area, the sacral area and also over bony protuberances of the leg. Seven implants from four patients had to be removed because of damage or infection. Sixteen patients with 18 implants have proceeded with no recurrence for a period of 4-8 years.