Gerontology
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The measurement of the transcutaneous PO2 (tc PO2) demonstrates that localized pressure on skin sites under bony prominences (e.g., the sacral and trochanteric areas) decreases the tc PO2 at these skin positions to zero when subjects are lying motionless on a normal hospital mattress. This explains the high risk of pressure sore formation in elderly patients, who have a greatly reduced frequency of involuntary movements. ⋯ With healthy adults, placed in this position, both the skin areas over the trochanteric and sacral bony prominences remain almost free from pressure and thus normally oxygenated. In addition, the tc PO2 measurement allows an immediate assessment of the efficacy of a procedure for sore prevention.