Critically ill patients are at a higher risk for pressure ulcers than patients in general care unites. Several factors increase the risk: severity of illness; increased length of stay; poor tissue perfusion due to hemodynamic instability, use of vasoactive medications, anemia; sensory impairment, skin maceration due to moisture; immobility; and poor nutritional status.  

Aim:

the aim of this study is to assess the risk factors of pressure ulcers among traumatized patients.

Design:

descriptive research design was used to conduct this research.

Setting:

this study was carried out at Trauma ICU at Assiut University Hospitals.

Subjects:

sampleof this studyincluded 60 adult patients.

Tools:

  two tools were used for data collection in this study.

Results:

The main results revealed that most of study sample aged between 41- 60 years old, and there was a significant difference between the age groups. Results also indicated a significant difference between the studied samples in relation to the different risk factors. There was a significance difference in the studied patients in relation to the temperature. As regard the Braden scale assessment, it was found a significance difference between the studied patients in relation to the sub items of the scale.

Conclusion:

  proper assessment of the patients for pressure ulcer risk factors is very important for prevention.