Trauma patients with a serious injury to the head or neck can remain immobilised with a cervical collar (C-collar) device in situ and are subsequently exposed to device-related skin integrity threats. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors associated with the development of C-collar-related pressure injures (CRPIs) in an intensive care unit. This retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted in an Australian metropolitan intensive care unit. Following ethical approval, data from patients over 18 years, who received a C-collar were retrieved over a 9-year period. Chi square and t-tests were used to identify variables associated with CRPI development. A logistic regression model was employed to analyse the risk factors. Data from 906 patients were analysed. Nine-year pressure injury incidence was 16.9% (n = 154/906). Pressure injury development directly associated with a C-collar increased by 33% with each repositioning episode (odds ratio 1.328, 95% confidence interval 1.024-1.723, P = .033). Time in the C-collar (10.4 to 2.5 days, P = .002) and length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) (20.1 to 16.1 days, P < .001) were associated with pressure injury development. Patients with C-collar devices are a vulnerable group at risk for pressure injury development because of their immobility and length of ICU stay.
Keywords: cervical collar; critically ill patients; incidence; intensive care; pressure injury.
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