The role of plastic surgery in the treatment of pressure injuries: report of 38 cases in a trauma care center

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Pressure injuries are caused by a local increase in external pressure, leading to ischemia and necrosis. They involve multidisciplinary treatment, and their management includes conservative and/or surgical procedures. The plastic surgeon plays a key role in the surgical treatment of these injuries.

Methods:

Medical records of 38 patients with pressure injuries, single or multiple, treated by Plastic Surgery at Hospital do Trabalhador, Curitiba-PR, Brazil) from June 2012 to March 2020 were analyzed. In this observational study, the characteristics of 45 pressure injuries were considered together with the surgical techniques employed and their outcomes.

Results:

The average age of the patients were 35.4 years, the majority being men. The lesions were located mainly in the ischiatic and sacral regions, predominating the classification of the III and IV degrees. The lesions were mostly located in the ischial, sacral and trochanteric regions, predominantly grades III and IV. Debridement was performed, followed by coverage with flaps and skin grafts, mostly gluteal VY advancement flaps and gluteal island. Some patients developed complications in the postoperative period, mainly flap dehiscence and/or infection.

Conclusion:

Pressure injuries predominated in young adult male patients, unlike the global prevalence (elderly and/or patients with chronic diseases). The greatest incidences occurred in the ischial and sacral regions, explained by the limitation of movements charged to the profile of victims of major trauma. The most used flap was the gluteus maximus flap to treat these lesions.

Keywords:
Pressure ulcer; Surgery, plastic; Surgical Flaps; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Trauma centers