Healing process of pressure ulcers after a change in the nutrition regimen of bedridden elderly: A case series

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to describe the healing process of pressure ulcers after a change in the nutrition regimen of seven bedridden elderly patients. Methods: The healing process of pressure ulcers was described and monitored for 4 weeks prior to and 4 weeks following a change in the nutrition regimen in the seven subjects, who were in long‐term care facilities, while controlling for other factors related to pressure ulcer healing. Changes in the nutrition regimen included increased caloric intake, supplements, or tube feeding. The healing process was measured qualitatively using wound sketches and quantitatively using wound surface area and DESIGN score. Results: Pressure ulcers were predominantly stage III ( n = 4) and located in the truncal area ( n = 6). There were qualitative differences in the healing process before and after the nutrition regimen change. Most notably, in six cases there was early granulation tissue at the wound edge at week 2 after the change, the color of the granulation tissue improved at week 3, and there was a decrease in wound depth at week 4. Conclusions: Based on this description of the process of healing of full‐thickness pressure ulcers in seven elderly subjects, it is suggested that a qualitative assessment of improvement in the wound can be made from the appearance of the granulation tissue following a change in nutrition.