Development of a model to demonstrate the effects of friction and pressure on skin in relation to pressure ulcer formation

Pressure ulcers are a common injury of the skin which leads to pain and potential infection for patients and financial burden to the healthcare providers across the global due to treatment costs, litigation and extended hospital stays. The current study focuses on one of the causes of pressure ulcer formation, ischemia. Blood vessels are deemed to be deformed and blood flow restricted when skin is subjected to external mechanical loads including friction, pressure and the combination of both. Hence, normal oxygen delivery to cells or metabolic waste removal are locally stopped which causes cells deaths and ultimately pressure ulcers.