Effects of integrated microclimate intervention on the prevention of pressure injury in rat models.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pressure injury (PI) prevention remains a major clinical challenge. Repositioning is effective but cannot be applied to perioperative patients, creating a need for alternative approaches. The skin microclimate plays an important role in PI development, yet the effect of an integrated microclimate intervention is unclear. This study evaluated the effects of combined temperature control, humidity regulation, and oxygen supplementation on PI prevention in a rat model. METHODS: Five rats were assigned to control and intervention conditions using a split-body design. The intervention sites received localised cooling, humidity reduction, and oxygen supplementation using solid oxygen sheets, whereas the control sites received compression only. Skin temperature, humidity, redness, ulcer incidence, and ulcer area were measured at multiple time points after decompression. FINDINGS: The intervention sites maintained lower skin temperature (12.05 ± 4.97 °C) and humidity (53.94 ± 5.14%) compared with the control sites (31.63 ± 0.12 °C and 67.25 ± 3.69%). Ulcer incidence in the intervention group was 10% (1 ulcer), lower than the 50% (5 ulcers) in the control group at 2 d. Redness also resolved more rapidly in the intervention group. INTERPRETATION: Integrated microclimate regulation reduced the risk of PI. As the first study to show the synergistic effect of combined microclimate control, these findings suggest a potential strategy for PI prevention in clinical practice. Further research is needed to confirm its applicability in human populations.