Computed tomography of pressure sores.

Twenty-three paralyzed patients admitted for treatment of recurrent pressure sores were evaluated by computed tomography, bone scanning, gallium scanning, and sonography. Computed tomography was helpful in detecting associated peripelvic and pelvic abscesses and pelvic osteomyelitis, which were undiagnosed by all other modalities combined in more than half of the patients. Computed tomography was also useful in preoperative planning by revealing the extent of the undermining of the pressure sore, the thickness of the fibrous scar at its base, and the size and status of the adjacent muscles.