Pressure sores of human tissue damage during pelvic binder compression

Abstract

Pelvic circumferential compression is a device used to reduce injury which inadvertently, cause soft tissue damage. When force is applied excessively to the pelvic binder, tissue is damaged due to prolonged high pressure. Therefore, effect from this interaction between tissue and pelvic binder is an important factor to avoid pressure sores due to human tissue damage. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of human tissue interaction due to compression of the pelvic binder using a finite element modelling approach. A three-dimensional human pelvic model was developed to simulate pressure distribution on tissue interfaces. The applied loads with two different conditions – dry and wet skin were applied on both tips of the pelvic strap during binder-tissue interaction. The compression load of the pelvic binder was estimated on a pelvic strap in order to reduce pelvic fracture. The compression load was varied substantially between locations as well as between skin conditions. There were two straps on the pelvis. For pelvic strap 1, the pressure on the sacrum and ilium was higher than the pressure measured on pelvic strap 2 while pressure on the anterior area was the same for both pelvic straps. Analysis results showed that the pressure which developed between both tissue and pelvic binder exceeded the recommended pressure i.e. ≥ 9.3 kPa at tissue interfaces. When pressure on tissue interfaces is not controlled, this condition can lead to tissue damage due to prolonged periods of time. Hence, to avoid tissue damage to the pelvic binder a cushion must be introduced to reduce the effect of tissue reaction from the prehospital device. Subsequently, tissue and pelvic binder interaction simulation results were compared with experimental data for validation in the model developed.