-Original-

Finite Element Analysis of Undermining of Pressure Ulcer with a Simple Cylinder Model

Shuichi Kuroda and Masataka Akimoto

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chiba-hokuso Hospital, Nippon Medical School

With pressure sores, surface damage indicates that subcutaneous fat tissue necrosis has occurred. We hypothesized that formation of necrosis under a pressure sore changes the stress distribution, which in turn affects further extension of the necrosis. In the present study, two-dimensional finite element models were used to perform analysis under different undermining size conditions. Greater stress concentration was observed in the larger undermining model. This may be the reason that, in clinical situations, a large area of undermining necrosis is sometimes observed under the skin of sores with a small area of damage.

J Nippon Med Sch 2005; 72: 174-178

Keywords
pressure ulcer, finite element, computer simulation

Correspondence to
Masataka Akimoto, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chiba-hokuso Hospital, Nippon Medical School, 1715 Kamagari, Imba-mura, Imba-gun, Chiba 270-1694, Japan
akimoto@nms.ac.jp

Received, December 22, 2004
Accepted, February 2, 2005