The effectiveness of curvilinear supine position on the incidence of pressure injuries and interface pressure among surgical patients

Abstract

Background: Intraoperative pressure injury is still a major problem of perioperative nursing. Reducing the peak interface pressure is a valid clinical intervention for reducing the incidence of intraoperative pressure injuries. However, studies of repositioning and pressure-redistributing for surgical patients are still lacking. In this context we aimed to evaluate the effect of a curvilinear supine position on incidence of pressure injury with surgical patients in a hospital setting.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled study, carried out from May to December 2016, included 104 surgical patients from a university hospital in China (experimental group, n = 52; control group, n = 52). Incidence of pressure injury, interface pressure, comfort and satisfaction scores from surgeons, anesthesiologists, OR nurses were recorded. Mann-Whitney U Chi-square test was used for difference of pressure injury's incidence and mixed linear model was used for interface pressure.

Results: Overall the intervention group had significant fewer intraoperative pressure injuries than the control group (0 patients [0%] vs. 9 patients [17.65%], p = 0.002). Compared with control group, the experimental group had significantly lower interface pressures in the sacrum and heel regions (F = 23.81, p < 0.001; F = 60.71, p < 0.001). The subjects felt comfortable in two groups were 40(80%) vs. 3(5.88%) (experimental group vs. control group), respectively (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Curvilinear supine position could significantly decrease the incidence of perioperative pressure injuries in surgical patients with surgery duration more than three hours. Considering these results, we recommend that curvilinear supine position use as effective interventions to inform perioperative care delivery, reducing perioperative pressure injuries. These findings may serve to guide the application of pressure redistribution in the surgical positioning of patients during prolonged surgery.