| Abstract |
The NATO litter, a canvas stretcher, is the primary transport device and hospital bed in military and contingency operations. The purpose of this study was to measure peak skin interface pressures and the total area of the body exposed to skin interface pressure above 30 mm Hg at different areas of the body on different configurations of the NATO litter. These results are important in characterizing one risk factor for pressure ulcer formation. Subjects, who served as their own controls, were studied in three positions (supine, supine with a 40-degree backrest elevation, and 30-degree lateral rotation with a 0-degree backrest elevation). A repeatedmeasures design was used to determine the peak pressures and skin surface area exposed to greater than 30 mm Hg for each body region (e.g., occiput, scapula, sacrum, trochanter, calf, and heel) on 4 different surfaces (NATO litter, NATO litter with wool blanket, NATO litter with aerovac (AE) mattress, and Maxifloat mattress). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: 32 men and women were selected based on a stratification scheme (gender and BMI characterization). Peak pressures for all body areas on all litter surfaces were greater than 30 mm Hg, indicating an increased risk for pressure ulcer formation. There was no significant reduction in pressure or surface area with the addition of the wool military blanket. Adding the AE mattress significantly decreased pressures on all body positions, although pressure reduction was not comparable to the replacement mattress. Placement in the 30-degree side-lying position decreased pressure on the buttocks and head, but significantly increased pressure on the heels, hip, shoulder, and arms. Heel pressure was not relieved in any position on any litter surface. Placement in the 40-degree backrest position significantly increased pressures on the buttocks and heels for all surfaces. |
