A Comparison of Four Beds in the Prevention of Tissue Ischaemia in Paraplegic Patients

Seven paraplegic and tetraplegic patients were each evaluated on four different beds (standard, water mattress, soft foam, rocking bed) to determine optimum turning intervals for least tissue ischaemia and maximum comfort. The results of the present study indicate that:1. Three paraplegic and tetraplegic patients wearing Stryker boots and lying on sheepskin showed no objective evidence of tissue ischaemia after remaining 8 hours in one position on a standard hospital bed.

2. The degree of ischaemia appears no different whether the patient is lying 2 or 8 hours unturned. It also appears to be no different whether the patient is turned on a standard bed, a soft foam mattress, a water mattress or a rocking bed.

3. Discomfort was the main cause for requesting to be turned in three of the seven patients in this study.4.

There was no difference in the amount of turning needed to relieve discomfort in any of the four test beds.5. Patients most preferred the water and soft foam mattress beds.