Wedges and abductors

RELEVANCE OF THE 30º SEMI-SIDE POSITION
• Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers is generally based on the principle of reducing tissue pressures by increasing the contact surface or transferring pressures to areas of lower risk.
• The majority of medical units include postural changes, with 90º lateralisations as part of the strategy of prevention and treatment of ulcers in patients with high or very high risk.
• While this position is effective in reducing pressures in the sacrum, it increases pressures in the trochanter zone.
• The use of this position is often the cause of the development of multiple pressure ulcers, worsening the diagnosis and lengthening hospitalization.
• Conclusion: frequent changes of position, with lateralizations at 90º are not enough to prevent the risk of pressure ulcers in the trochanter.

THE SOLUTION: 30º SEMI-SIDE POSITION
• Several authors and studies defend and strongly recommend the semi-lateral position at 30º to replace the
90º lateralization strategy given the risk to the trochanter.
• The principle behind the 30º position is the transfer of pressures to areas of lower risk, without bony protuberances and
well vascularized.