Article 2024 Aug 23

How to Effectively Prevent Pressure Injuries in Children: Tips for Parents and Healthcare Providers


A specialized pressure relieving support surface solution effectively improves caregivers' workflow efficiency, accuracy, and handling injury risks and pressure injury prevention, comfort, and outcome for pediatric patients.
Pediatric Patients and Pressure Injury Risks
Pressure injuries, also known as pressure ulcers, are areas of damaged skin and tissue caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. This condition can lead to serious complications, especially in pediatric patients. Pediatric pressure injury prevalence rates reported in the international literature since 2000 range from 0.47% to as high as 75%, with the highest prevalence reported in neonates and children with chronic illness.1
The most common pediatric pressure injury sites in order of prevalence are occipital, sacrum, and heels. Young children have a larger head-to-body ratio than adults, where the sacrum has the most significant pressure injury prevalence, resulting in substantial pressure injury prevalence in the occiput area.9
Understanding the Risk Factors for Pediatric Pressure Injuries
Children, particularly those with limited mobility or who are bedridden for extended periods, are at a higher risk of developing pressure injuries. Additional factors that increase this risk include:
  • Age: Younger children, especially infants, have more delicate skin, making them more susceptible to pressure injuries.
  • Chronic Conditions: Children with chronic illnesses or those who require mechanical ventilation are at greater risk due to prolonged immobility.
  • Nutritional Status: Malnourished children or those with compromised immune systems are more prone to skin breakdown.
  • Head Vulnerability: The head, particularly the back of the head, is one of the most common areas for pressure injuries in infants up to age 5.2,3 This is due to their prolonged lying positions, a larger and heavier head, and a lack of adipose tissue.
Prevention Strategies for Pressure Relief
Preventing pressure injuries in children requires a proactive approach. Here are some key strategies:
  1. Regular Position Changes: Repositioning the child every two hours helps to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas. Pay special attention to bony prominences such as the heels, elbows, and the back of the head.
  2. Use of Pressure-Relieving Devices: Specially designed mattresses for pediatric body shapes can significantly reduce the risk of pressure injuries. Procare Auto Pediatric alternating pressure redistribution system is an excellent option, offering automated adjustments to minimize pressure on sensitive areas.
  3. Skin Care: Maintaining good skin hygiene is essential. Keep the skin clean and dry, and apply moisture barrier creams to protect against skin breakdown.
  4. Nutrition and Hydration: Ensure the child receives adequate nutrition and stays well-hydrated. Proper nutrition supports skin integrity and helps in the healing process if injuries do occur.
  5. Education and Awareness: Parents and caregivers should be educated on the signs of pressure injuries and the importance of early intervention. Regular skin inspections are crucial for early detection and prevention.
The Role of Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers play a vital role in preventing pressure injuries in pediatric patients. This involves:
  • Conducting regular risk assessments for each child.
  • Implementing individualized care plans that include pressure relief strategies.
  • Training parents and caregivers on prevention techniques and the use of pressure-relieving devices.
Explore the Impact of Pressure Injuries on Your Hospital
Advanced Support Surfaces for Pediatric Pressure Injury Prevention. 
Here are the key benefits it provides:
  1. Enhance care process : Auto adjustment function simplifies care delivery by optimizing mattress firmness according to the patient's weight.
  2. Full body alternating therapy: Full body pressure redistribution improves prevention against occiput and other pressure injuries for supine and lateral positions.
  3. Specially Designed for Sensitive Patients: Alternating Low Pressure Mode (ALP) helps to ensure consistent pressure relief, care, and comfort by reducing pressure during alternating cycles. 
  4. Narrow air cells for petite bodies: Narrower (5.8 cm), sturdier, and more tightly packed air cells improve pressure relief and prevent bottoming out or trapped limbs— patented design.
  5. Microclimate management: Micro low air loss wicks moisture from patients' skin and improves skin microclimate control.
Figure1: Special air cell designs and settings ensure effective pressure relief for pediatric patients.

For more information on how specialized support surfaces can help in pressure injury prevention and enhance patient care, visit Wellell.
Explore the Impact of Pressure Injuries on your hospital
Resources：
  1. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.). EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA; 2019. 
  2. Kottner, J., Cuddigan, J., Carville, K., Balzer, K., Berlowitz, D., Law, S., ... & Haesler, E. (2019). Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers/injuries: The protocol for the second update of the international Clinical Practice Guideline 2019. Journal of tissue viability, 28(2), 51-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtv.2019.01.001
  3. Levy, A., Kopplin, K., & Gefen, A. (2015). Adjustability and Adaptability Are Critical Characteristics of Pediatric Support Surfaces. Advances in wound care, 4(10), 615–622. https://doi.org/10.1089/wound.2015.0639