Recurrence rate after pressure ulcer reconstruction in patients with spinal cord injury in patients under control by a plastic surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation team.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the recurrence rate after reconstruction of the pressure ulcer (PU) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) treated by a team consisted of plastic surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between February 2002 and December 2008, a total of 39 patients with SCI (32 males, 7 females; mean age 38.1±6.7 years; range, 19 to 71 years) aged ≥18 years who were admitted to our rehabilitation unit and operated for PU were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data and physical examination findings and potential risk factors for recurrence of PU were recorded. All patients were followed for the PU recurrence after reconstruction.

RESULTS

The recurrence of PU was observed in nine patients (23.1%) with SCI. The most common recurrent PU was sacral ulcer (82.1%), followed by ischial ulcers (20.5%), trochanteric ulcers (15.4%), and others (2.6%). No risk factor was found to be statistically significant between the two groups in terms of both demographic risk factors and clinical risk factors. No statistically significant effect of clinical and demographic risk factors was found on the risk of recurrence of PU.

CONCLUSION

Our study results suggest that collaboration between plastic surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation department with a strict follow-up protocol may help to prevent recurrences of PU after surgery in SCI patients.