Clinical strategy on repair of pressure injury on ischial tuberosity based on the histopathological type

Objective To investigate effects of clinical strategy on repair of pressure injury on ischial tuberosity based on the histopathological type. Methods From January 2014 to January 2018, 33 patients with 33 pressure injuries on ischial tuberosity were admitted to our department. There were 25 males and 8 females aged 35 to 87 years. Pressure injuries on ischial tuberosity were repaired with different methods according to pathological types of denatured tissue on basal parts of wounds and tissue defect volumes. Areas of wounds after thorough debridement ranged from 2.0 cm×1.0 cm to 14.0 cm×12.0 cm. Pressure injuries of necrosis type with tissue defect volumes of 6.5-9.5 cm³ were sutured directly after debridement at the first stage. Tissue defect volumes of 3 patients with pressure injuries of granulation type ranged from 56.0 to 102.5 cm³. According to situation around wounds, the above mentioned 3 patients were respectively repaired with posterior femoral Z-shaped reconstruction, posterior femoral advanced V-Y flap, and posterior femoral propeller flap. Tissue defect volumes of 5 patients with pressure injuries of infection type ranged from 67.5 to 111.0 cm³. Among the patients, 2 patients were repaired with posterior femoral propeller flaps, 2 patients were repaired with posterior femoral advanced V-Y flaps, and 1 patient was repaired with posterior femoral Z-shaped reconstruction. Among patients with pressure injuries of synovium type, wounds of 14 patients with tissue defect volumes 6.4-9.5 cm³ were sutured directly after debridement, and tissue defect volumes of another 8 patients were 97.0-862.5 cm³. Among the 8 patients, 7 patients were repaired with gluteus maximus myocutaneous flaps and continued vacuum sealing drainage was performed for 7 to 14 days according to volume of drainage, and 1 patient was repaired with posterior femoral propeller flap. Areas of flaps or myocutaneous flaps ranged from 3.5 cm× 2.5 cm to 14.0 cm×12.0 cm. The donor sites of flaps were sutured directly. Operative areas after operation and healing of wounds during follow-up were observed. Results The sutured sites of 33 patients connected tightly, with normal skin temperature, color, and reflux. During follow-up of 12 months, wounds of 25 patients healed well with no local ulceration, and 8 patients were admitted to our department again due to recurrence of pressure injuries on or near the primary sites. Pathological types of pressure injuries of the 8 patients were synovium types. After complete debridement, the tissue defect volumes were 336.8-969.5 cm^3, wounds with areas ranged from 8.0 cm×7.0 cm to 14.0 cm×12.0 cm were repaired with gluteus maximus myocutaneous flaps or posterior femoral propeller flaps which ranged from 8.0 cm×7.0 cm to 14.0 cm×12.0 cm. Eight patients were discharged after wound healing completely. During follow-up of 12 months, operative sites of the patients healed well, with no recurrence. Conclusions Appropriate and targeted methods should be chosen to repair pressure injuries on ischial tuberosity based on the pathological types. Direct suture after debridement is the first choice to repair pressure injury of necrosis type. Pressure injuries of granulation type and infection type can be repaired with posterior femoral propeller flap, Z-shaped reconstruction, or advanced V-Y flap according to situation around wounds. Gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap is the first choice to repair pressure injury of synovium type. In addition, recurrence-prone characteristics of pressure injury of synovium type should be taken into consideration, plan should be made previously, and resources should be reserved.