Assessment of pressure ulcer risk in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty

Aim: The study was conducted to evaluate the risk of pressure ulcers in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). Materials and Methods: The study is a prospective follow-up study. A total of 126 patients who had undergone THA surgery were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical position: supine and lateral. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, a personal information form, the Braden Scale, the 3S Operating Room Pressure Injury Risk Diagnostic Scale, the Risk Evaluation Scale for Injuries Developed Due to Surgical Positions, the International NPUAP-EPUAP Pressure Ulcer Classification System, and the postoperative pressure ulcer observation form. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: According to the research, 11.9% of patients who underwent complete hip replacement developed pressure ulcers. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups, there were 15.9% of patients in the lateral position and 7.9% of patients in the supine position who developed pressure ulcers (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the pressure ulcer development status of the patients included in the study, sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors affecting pressure ulcers (p>0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the postoperative mobilization time of the patients and the development of pressure ulcers (p<0.05) Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that pressure ulcers developed in 11.9% of the patients who underwent total hip replacement and that the position during the operation was not effective in preventing the development of pressure sores, but the postoperative mobilization period was effective. Keywords: Pressure ulcer, total hip replacement, surgery, position