Wound fixation for pressure ulcers: a new therapeutic concept based on the physical properties of wounds

Abstract

A pressure ulcer is defined as damage to skin and other tissues over a bony prominence caused by excess pressure. Deep pressure ulcers that develop over specific bony prominences often exhibit wound deformity, defined as a change in the 3-dimensional shape of the wound. Subsequently, the wound deformity can result in undermining formation, which is a characteristic of deep pressure ulcers. However, to date, a concept with respect to alleviating wound deformity has yet to be defined and described. To clarify the issue, we propose a new concept called "wound fixation" based on the physical properties of deep pressure ulcers with wound deformity. Wound fixation is defined here as the alleviation of wound deformity by exogenous materials. The wound fixation methods are classified as traction, anchor, and insertion based on the relation between the wound and action point by the exogenous materials. A retrospective survey of a case series showed that wound fixation was preferentially used for deep pressure ulcers at specific locations such as the sacrum, coccyx, and greater trochanter. Moreover, the methods of wound fixation were dependent on the pressure ulcer location. In conclusion, our new concept of wound fixation will be useful for the practical treatment and care of pressure ulcers. Further discussion and validation by other experts will be required to establish this concept.

Keywords: Pressure ulcer; Undermining formation; Wound deformity; Wound fixation.