Pressure ulcers: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

Home Pressure ulcers: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

Pressure ulcers: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

A 30-year-old man with a history of traumatic brain injury is evaluated for skin care management. He is currently bedridden and requires mechanical ventilation via a tracheostomy and is fed through a gastrostomy tube. Over the past week, he has developed a painful area on his lower back. Physical examination reveals a non-blanchable erythema over his sacral region with a 2.5 cm x 2 cm area of skin breakdown exposing the dermis. His temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F), blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, and pulse is 70/min. Which of the following interventions would have been most effective in preventing the development of this skin lesion?

A. Compression stockings
B. Use of air-fluidized bed
C. Daily massage of pressure points
D. High-protein feeding
E. Regular repositioning

Answer and topic summary

The answer is E. Regular repositioning

Regular repositioning is a key intervention in preventing pressure ulcers in bedridden or immobile patients. This practice helps redistribute pressure and minimizes the continuous focal pressure that contributes to skin breakdown, especially over bony prominences like the sacrum. Patients should be repositioned every two hours to reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers. Proper positioning also ensures that no area of the skin is subject to prolonged pressure, which is essential for maintaining skin integrity.

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Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:

Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Dermatology ⇒Skin integrity ⇒ Pressure ulcers

Also covered on the Family Medicine EOR and General Surgery PAEA rotation content topic list

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