ABSTRACT
Our aim in this study was to examine which factors are associated with post-operative complications after surgery for pressure ulcers in individuals with spinal cord injury. We performed a retrospective cohort study including all spinal cord injured patients undergoing pressure ulcer surgery in our department between 2002 and 2019. Patient demographics and comorbidity were collected from medical records, as were treatment data and information on post-operative complications within 30 days. Assessment of outcomes was performed through t-tests, χ2-tests and ANOVA. Out of 118 operations, 51 (43%) had a post-operative complication of any kind. The vast majority (44 cases, 86% of all complications) had minor complications (Clavien-Dindo grade I or II). Seven patients (6%) had a complication of Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher, requiring return to theatre or ICU care. We found that a higher age, a low serum albumin (<3.5 g/dl), and over or underweight, were associated with an increased risk of complications (p < 0.05). Out of 143 treated ulcers, 132 were evaluated at a follow-up visit one to two months after surgery, and 99 of these (75%) were healed. Surgery of pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury is not a low-risk venture, however, few patients will suffer serious post-operative complications. A majority of treated ulcers will heal shortly post-operatively. A number of risk factors are associated with post-operative complications, which can be of help to guide patient selection in the future.
Subject(s)
Postoperative Complications , Pressure Ulcer/surgery , Spinal Cord Injuries/complications , Wound Healing , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Overweight , Paraplegia/complications , Pressure Ulcer/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Serum Albumin/analysis , Surgical Flaps , Thinness , Young AdultABSTRACT
With the aim to improve the outcomes for spinal cord-injured patients undergoing surgery for pressure ulcers, a structured treatment programme regulating pre- and postoperative care and rehabilitation was introduced in 2002 in Stockholm. Fifty-one consecutive patients operated on between 2002 and 2007 were included in a 10-year follow-up to evaluate the programme regarding initial healing results and long-term ulcer and health status. At one month postoperatively, 49 out of 51 (96%) patients were completely healed. Five patients (5/44, 11%) developed recurrent or new ulcers within 3 years of surgery. Two patients were re-operated on (2/44, 5%). Between 3 and 10 years after surgery, 9 patients (9/33, 27%) had a history of recurrent ulcers, and 6 (6/33, 18%) had a history of new ulcers, a total of 15 patients (15/33, 45%). Of these, three needed re-operation (3/33, 9 %). The health status values using a visual analogue rating scale were 70 (median) at 3 and 10 years compared with 30 (median) preoperatively. The good initial healing, the low ulcer recurrence rate and the raise in health status indicate the value of a structured treatment programme, especially for the first few postoperative years.
