Effect of Support Surfaces on Sacral Blood Flow: A Comparative Study in Young Adults

Introduction: Pressure injuries are a common healthcare concern (Isfahani et al., 2024), particularly for patients with limited mobility. For critical care patients this prevalence is 14.3% in the US (Cox et al., 2022). Selecting an appropriate support surface may assist with mediating biomechanical determinants, an indirect force in the development of pressure injuries (Coleman et al., 2014). This study investigates the influence of standard hospital foam mattress, gel, and alternating pressure (AP) support surfaces on sacral blood flow in healthy young adults, considering individual Body Mass Index (BMI) variations.Methods:In our IRB-approved within-subjects designed study, we enrolled 30 young adults of varied BMIs (normal, overweight, or obese) to compare sacral blood perfusion in a right gluteal region of interest among three support surfaces over two-hour sessions using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). Initial mean blood flow measurements were established at baseline, followed by post-2-hour mean LSCI measurements.Results:A significant (p 0.05) increase in mean sacral blood flow occurred for all surfaces. Interestingly, when BMI was considered as covariate, the increased blood flow during recovery period was significantly lower (Kruskal- Wallis test, p = 0.03) for the AP support surface as compared to foam of normal BMI participants (18.5 – 24.9 kg/m2).Discussion: Our findings suggest that the impact of support surfaces on sacral blood flow may differ by type of surface among young adults, which may have implications for prevention measures for pressure injury. Blood flow variations tied to BMI underscore the need for personalized surface selection for vulnerable patients. Further research should probe these effects across varied patient groups and settings. These insights emphasize the critical role of support surfaces and individualized care in preventing pressure injuries.References:"Coleman, S., Nixon, J., Keen, J., Wilson, L., Mcginnis, E., Dealey, C., Stubbs, N., Farrin, A., Dowding, D., Schols, J. M. G. A., Cuddigan, J., Berlowitz, D., Jude, E., Vowden, P., Schoonhoven, L., Bader, D. L., Gefen, A., Oomens, C. W. J., & Nelson, E. A. (2014). A new pressure ulcer conceptual framework. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(10), 2222–2234. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12405