| Summary: | Pressure ulcers occur most frequently among the elderly, due to reduced subcutaneous fat and capillary blood flow, and among individuals who cannot reposition themselves such as patients with prolonged hospital stay, who are undergoing surgery, or who have neurological deficits such as spinal cord injury. To address this problem, polyurethane foam dressings are increasingly being used to protect areas that are vulnerable to pressure, friction, shear, and moisture. Although dressings are relatively inexpensive, it is important to determine whether sufficient clinical and cost-effectiveness has been demonstrated to warrant their widespread adoption in clinical practice. The purpose of this report is to examine the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and evidence-based guidelines regarding the preventive use of polyurethane foam dressings in adult patients at risk for developing pressure ulcers in any setting
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