Pressure Relieving Effect of Adding a Pelvic Well Pad to a Wheelchair Cushion in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

• Published in: Annals of rehabilitation medicine Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 270 - 276
• Main Authors: Shin, Hyunsoo, Kim, Junsik, Kim, Jin-Ju, Kim, Hye-Ri, Lee, Hye-Jin, Lee, Bum-Suk, Han, Zee-A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 01.04.2018; 대한재활의학회
• Subjects: Original; Pressure ulcer; Spinal cord injuries; Wheelchairs; 재활의학; Wheelchairs; Pressure ulcer; Spinal cord injuries
• ISSN: 2234-0645; 2234-0653
• DOI: 10.5535/arm.2018.42.2.270

To identify the pressure relieving effect of adding a pelvic well pad, a firm pad that is cut in the ischial area, to a wheelchair cushion on the ischium. Medical records of 77 individuals with SCI, who underwent interface pressure mapping of the buttock-thigh area, were retrospectively reviewed. The pelvic well pad is a 2.5-cm thick firm pad and has a cut in the ischial area. Expecting additional pressure relief, it can be inserted under a wheelchair cushion. Subjects underwent interface pressure mapping in the subject's wheelchair utilizing the subject's pre-existing pressure relieving cushion and subsequently on a combination of a pelvic well pad and the cushion. The average pressure, peak pressure, and contact area of the buttock-thigh were evaluated. Adding a pelvic well pad, under the pressure relieving cushion, resulted in a decrease in the average and peak pressures and increase in the contact area of the buttock-thigh area when compared with applying only pressure relieving cushions (p<0.05). The mean of the average pressure decreased from 46.10±10.26 to 44.09±9.92 mmHg and peak pressure decreased from 155.03±48.02 to 131.42±45.86 mmHg when adding a pelvic well pad. The mean of the contact area increased from 1,136.44±262.46 to 1,216.99±255.29 cm . When a pelvic well pad was applied, in addition to a pre-existing pressure relieving cushion, the average and peak pressures of the buttock-thigh area decreased and the contact area increased. These results suggest that adding a pelvic well pad to wheelchair cushion may be effective in preventing a pressure ulcer of the buttock area.