Prevalence, Risk Factors and Surgical Management of Pressure Sores: An 11-Year Study in a Tunisian University Hospital

Pressure sores are skin lesions caused by prolonged pressure, often against bony prominences or due to unrelieved contact with medical devices. A retrospective study has been conducted over an 11-year period at the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax and included 54 patients who underwent surgical treatment for pressure sores. The median patient age was 54 years, with a male predominance. The most common comorbidities within the patients’ medical history were hypertension and diabetes. The majority of sores were caused by neurological disorders (42.9%) and trauma (33.3%). Signs of infection were present in 43.3% of cases. The average size of the pressure sores was of 4 ± 1.2 cm. The primary treatment consisted of cleansing with a saline solution (97.3%), followed by antiseptic irrigation with povidone-iodine in some cases (36.7%). Surgical management included debridement and coverage with either an autoplasty or local flaps (57%). Postoperative complications included wound dehiscence and acute loss of blood requiring transfusion; however, no pathological scarring was observed and only one case of recurrence was noted. Complications were significantly associated with diabetes, prolonged immobilization and initially necrotic sores. This study highlights the critical role of preventive measures and hygiene in the effective management of pressure sores.