Spasticity, Contracture and Pressure Ulcers. Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relationship between Spasticity, Contracture and Pressure Ulcers in the Severely Neurodisabled Population.
IRAS ID
164914
Contact name
Katie Henderson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 15 days
Research summary
Pressure Ulcers (PUs) are a debilitating and life threatening complication for many people who have severe physical disability as a result of a neurological condition. They are the most common complication seen in those with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and are also highly prevalent among those with advanced Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and physical disability following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Current clinical practice guidelines on PU care discuss strategies to prevent and manage PUs, however in the severely neurodisabled (SND) population PUs are often resistant to these strategies. Evidence has shown that there may be a link between PUs and both spasticity and contracture, two complications seen in people with SND. However this has only been researched in the SCI population and not across the SND population as a whole. What is also not clear is the relationship between the severity of these complications and PUs.
Using a cross-sectional study design this project aims to quantify the presence and severity of PUs, spasticity and contracture in a population of 25 SND individuals to establish if there is a relationship between the presence and severity of spasticity and contracture, and PU occurrence. Participants will be selected, using set inclusion and exclusion criteria, from current in and outpatient caseloads of the rehabilitation consultants in NHS Grampian. Each subject will undergo a single assessment using standardised outcome measures, carried out by an experienced physiotherapist. Data will then be collated and analysed to establish any significant correlation.
REC name
Scotland A: Adults with Incapacity only
REC reference
15/SS/0001
Date of REC Opinion
30 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion