Sub‐epidermal moisture measurement: an evidence‐based approach to the assessment for early evidence of pressure ulcer presence

• Published in: International wound journal 2020-12, Vol.17 (6), p.1615-1623
• Main Authors: Budri, Aglecia Moda Vitoriano, Moore, Zena, Patton, Declan, O'Connor, Tom, Nugent, Linda, Avsar, Pinar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; pressure ulcer; risk assessment; screening tools; sub‐epidermal moisture; wound care
• ISSN: 1742-4801; 1742-481X
• DOI: 10.1111/iwj.13437

This paper aims to discuss the literature pertaining to early pressure‐shear induced tissue damage detection, with emphasis on sub‐epidermal moisture measurement (SEM). The current method for pressure detection is visual skin assessment (VSA); however, this method is fraught with challenges. Advances in early detection of pressure ulcers are reported in the literature and mainly involve measuring inflammation markers on weight‐bearing anatomical areas in order to capture the first signs of tissue damage. One novel technique currently in use is SEM measurement. This biophysical marker is the product of plasma that leaks as a response to local inflammation arising due to pressure‐shear induced damage over bony prominences. The early detection of tissue damage is beneficial in two different ways. First, it enables early intervention when the damage is still microscopic and reversible and, therefore, has the potential to prevent further aggravation of healthy surrounding tissue. This arises by avoiding the causation of the problem and stopping the knock‐on effect of inflammation, especially when the rapid pressure ulceration pathway of deformation is in place. Second, when the slow ischaemic‐reperfusion related mechanism is undergoing, cell death can be avoided when the problem is identified before the cell reaches the “death threshold,” completely averting a pressure ulcer.