Incidence and risk factors associated with pressure injury in patients with traumatic brain injury

Aim To identify the prevalence of pressure injury in patients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and analyse the risk factors involved during hospitalization. Methods This was a prospective study evaluating patients who were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury between November 2013 and September 2014. Patient characteristics, clinical and metabolic factors and therapeutic interventions, were evaluated within 30 days of hospital admission. Results Most of the 240 patients included in the study were male, young, and non‐Caucasian. The incidence of pressure injury was 18.8%. In terms of severity classification, the incidence of pressure injury was 2.7%, 23.2%, and 42.6% in mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury, respectively. Pressure injury development was more likely in the first 10 days of hospitalization. A moderate or severe traumatic brain injury classification, the use of noradrenaline, and older age were pressure injury risk factors. The presence of pressure injury was associated with mortality within 30 days of hospitalization (P < .001). Conclusion The incidence of pressure injury was high in patients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, especially in those whose injury was classified as severe. Older age, noradrenaline use, and a classification of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury were identified as pressure injury risk factors. SUMMARY STATEMENT What is already known about this topic? Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of disability in young adults. One of the complications reported in patients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury is pressure injury. Complications related to pressure injury may increase the risk of mortality. Pressure injury occurs because of a variety of factors, such as changes to skin perfusion, metabolism, nutrition, body temperature, mobility, and sensory perception. What this paper adds? A severity classification of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury increases the risk of developing pressure injuries. Older age and the use of noradrenaline, as well as the severity of the traumatic brain injury classification, were identified as risk factors for the development of pressure injury. The implications of this paper: To prevent the onset of pressure injury in patients with head trauma, nurses should be aware of the risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing these lesions. Once the patient has been admitted to the emergency room with cranial trauma, the risk of developing pressure