Preventing Pressure Sores in Hospital: Controlled Trial of a Large-celled Ripple Mattress

Abstract

This report is a description of a trial of nursing 42 geriatric patients, who were estimated to be liable to develop pressure sores, on a new type of alternating pressure mattress, the largecelled ripple bed, compared with a control group of 41 similar patients nursed on ordinary hospital mattresses. Each patient was nursed in the trial for 14 days under standard nursing care, and a record kept of his clinical progress and the condition of his pressure areas. Compared with the results of the control group, the largecelled ripple bed appeared effective in preventing and healing pressure sores of the trunk and heels. The advantages and disadvantages of this method of treating patients are discussed. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.