Treatment approaches of stage III and IV pressure injury in people with spinal cord injury: A scoping review

Abstract

Context

The treatment of pressure injury (PI) stage III and IV in people with spinal cord injury or spinal cord disorder (SCI/D) requires a multidisciplinary and surgical involvement.

Objectives

This scoping review aims to identify published relevant surgical multidisciplinary treatment approaches, describe the elements and evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Medline databases for studies about treatment approaches for people aged ≥18 years with chronic SCI/D and PI stage III or IV over ischium, trochanter or sacrum published between January 1990 and December 2021 in English or German language. Two independent reviewers screened the articles. One reviewer extracted information on study author(s), year of publication, study title, study design, country of origin, sample size as well as data on elements and effectiveness of the approaches.

Results

10 different approaches were described in two retrospective cohort studies, three case series, five discussion papers, one review and one guideline. All approaches included debridement, flap surgery, pressure relief and immobilization as well as infection control. Some approaches described elements such as risk screening (7/10), osteomyelitis treatment (8/10), nutritional therapy (8/10), physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology (6/10), spasticity control (7/10), and prevention and education (6/10). Only one study reported on the effectiveness of the approaches.

Conclusion

There are key elements for surgical multidisciplinary treatment approaches. However, due to differences in the content of some of these elements and missing elements in some approaches, comparability is difficult and the effectiveness of the complex approaches remains uncertain.

Keywords:

• Spinal cord injury
• Pressure injury
• Stage III and IV
• Treatment
• Treatment approach

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments are not necessary as all contributing parties are listed as authors.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors CF developed the study, conducted the literature search, screened the articles, decided about the inclusion and exclusion of the articles, collected the data, wrote the first draft of the paper and finalized the paper. AG conceptualized the study, supported the methodological analyses and gave valuable feedback regarding the paper. MaB helped screening the articles and deciding about the inclusion and exclusion of the articles. MB, BR, DJS and RW were involved in conceptualizing the study, gave relevant feedback for the manuscript. ASS conceptualized the study, decided about the inclusion and exclusion of the articles, and gave relevant feedback on the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Funding This scoping review was not funded.

Conflicts of interest Authors have no conflict of interests to declare.