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Evidence summaries

Support Surfaces for Treating Pressure Ulcer

There is insufficient evidence about the superiority of any support surface for the treatment of existing pressure ulcers. Level of evidence: "D"

The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (several issues), heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes and imprecise results.

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 18 studies with a total of 1309 subjects with samples sizes that ranged from 14 to 160. Of three trials comparing air-fluidized devices with conventional therapy, two reported significant reductions in pressure ulcer size associated with air-fluidized devices. In relation to three of the trials that reported significant reductions in pressure ulcer size favouring low air loss devices compared with foam alternatives, no significant differences were found. A small trial found that sheepskin placed under the legs significantly reduced redness and similarly a small subgroup analysis favoured a profiling bed compared with a standard bed in terms of the healing of existing grade 1 pressure ulcers.

Clinical comments

Note

Date of latest search:

References

  • McInnes E, Dumville JC, Jammali-Blasi A et al. Support surfaces for treating pressure ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(12):CD009490. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords