Assessing pressure ulcer risk
Several risk-assessment tools are available to
standardize the estimation of pressure ulcer
formation and limit the assessment variation
among nurses with different levels of knowledge
or years of experience. The Braden Scale is a valid
predictor of pressure ulcer development that
evaluates sensory perception, skin moisture, activity,
mobility, nutrition, and friction and shear; in a
systematic review, the Braden Scale offered the best
sensitivity and specificity compared to the Norton
Scale, Waterlow Scale, and clinical judgement. 2
Although studies have confirmed the usefulness of
this scale in multiple care settings, it fails to account
for perioperative considerations that increase risk
among patients undergoing surgical procedures
(e.g., time on the OR bed while immobile, type of
anesthesia, body temperature). 3