Pushin' On: UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System Digital Newsletter Volume 36 | Number 1 | Page 2

HEALTHY LIVING Surgical and Reconstructive Treatment of Pressure Injuries A pressure injury* is a medical issue that needs to be taken seriously by everyone with a spinal cord injury (SCI). As soon as you notice a discolored area on your skin, stay off the area and call a medical professional right away for advice on treatment. Most often, you simply need to stay off the discolored area until it returns to your normal skin color. However, a wound to the deep layers of the skin, muscle, bone or joint is often too severe to heal on its own. This type of injury often needs surgical and reconstructive treatment to promote healing. What stages of pressure injury most often need surgical and reconstructive treatment? Stage 3 and 4 pressure injuries are the ones that most often have to be surgically treated. Where on the body is surgical and reconstructive treatment usually needed? • Ischium – this is the boney area above the thigh and beneath the buttocks. A pressure injury can develop here when you sit for too long without doing weight shifts. • Sacrum – This is your tailbone. A • pressure injury can develop here when you lie on your back for too long or stay in a reclined position for too long without turning. Trochanter – This is your hip. A pressure injury can develop here when you lie on your side for too long without turning. Who is and is not a good candidate for surgery? Good candidates for surgery are those who are more likely to have successful results. In general, those candidates: • Have good social and family support; • Have the proper equipment; • Follow a healthy diet; • Are managing their chronic health conditions, which might include blood pressure, diabetes, incontinence, or other conditions that are managed by a primary care doctor or specialist; and • Don’t smoke or abuse drugs or alcohol. Those who aren’t good candidates for surgery are less likely to have successful results. In general, those candidates don’t have a good support network, don’t have proper equipment, have an unhealthy diet, have unmanaged medical conditions, and actively smoke or abuse drugs or alcohol. • Smoking narrows the blood vessels to your skin. This means your skin can’t get as much oxygen and nutrients due to the impaired blood flow. • People may become good candidates for surgery if they make the needed changes that make them more likely to have successful results What’s done to prepare for surgery? Preparing for surgery You and your surgeon will go over a number of things to try to avoid complications during surgery and give your body the best chance to heal. • Wound care history – This includes how long the wound has been present, whether other wounds are present and prior surgical treatment of wounds. • Health evaluation – This might include blood work, x-rays, Participate in UAB Research Low Carb/ High Protein Diet to Improve Metabolic Health in Individuals with SCI This study aims to determine the effects of an 8-week high-protein low-carbohydrate diet on metabolic health and gut function. Criteria to Participate • Have a SCI (tetraplegia or paraplegia) • Live in central Alabama and visit UAB 3 times • Willing to undergo lab tests (blood glucose, insulin and lipid levels, gut function, and body imaging) • Complete activity and food intake questionnaires Participants will earn between $250 and $450 for completing the study. Call 205-500-8180 or 205-996- 6896 or email [email protected] for information. 2 uab.edu/sci Scale Up Project Evaluating Responsiveness to Home Exercise And Lifestyle Tele-Health (SUPER-HEALTH) This study evaluates the effects of an exercise program on improving pain, fatigue, physical activity, and physical function. The program is delivered through a tablet app in the convenience of the home using exercise videos. Criteria to Participate • Ages 18-64 • Mobility Impairment/Disability • WiFi Internet access in Home Participants receive a tablet and Fitbit to use during study and are eligible to keep all equipment at the completion of last study visit. Visit superhealthstudy.org, call (205) 403- 5509, or email [email protected].