Pressure Relief Modalities for Wound Care- Exoskeletons?

Pressure Relief Modalities for Wound Care are topics of concern that every wound care certified clinician must consider in their treatment plans for their patients. Some of the common pressure relieving devices include gel pads or cushions, position devices, low air loss and alternating pressure mattresses. Today, I caught a glimpse of what may help some patients in their fight against pressure ulcers on some parts of their bodies due to immobility and consistent pressure to certain parts of the body.

Rex the Robotic Exoskeleton may sound like something out of the future, but I assure you the future has arrived. Check out the video below. From a wound care clinician’s perspective, I immediately was intrigued by what I saw in terms of what the future may hold for pressure relief, mobility management and treatment for patients that suffer from chronic pressure ulcers and wounds.

Some of the immediate benefits that came to mind include but are not limited to:

Pressure Relief to the sacral and ischial areas
Improved circulation through mobility
Decreased atrophy
Improved Dignity

So what are your thoughts on this type of technology and what it may mean to the treatment of patients with wounds? I know costs would be a concern, but we should consider the costs of long term wound care treatments and how technology advancements like the Rex Robotic Exoskeleton would mean. It appears that the quality of life for the young man in the video was considerably enhanced. What say you?

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute or to become Wound Care Certified, please visit http://www.wcei.net

Sean

At first blush I was amazed. The quality of life for that individual would be catapulted. I too think the cost will be an enormous challenge, and hope it won't discount it's use or promotion.
The benefits of the wheelchair bound patient actually 'walking' are endless. I guess my question is all about safety?
Watching the ambulation makes me fear that the rig will fall?! How is a fall prevented?
I think this is just the first baby 'step' towards amazing progress.
Awesome.

drewmgriffin

I agree. There are many variables to something like this. Safety is of foremost concern. Naturally, the benefits that one would enjoy from such a modality are endless and would have to be heavily weighed for the sake of safety. This brings liberating feelings and hope to those who have not had such abilities or possibilities of walking again.
From a clinician's point of view, this lends a lot of flexibility to a care plan and ultimately to our arsenal of treatments. As a wound care nurse, one of our biggest challenges fro pressure wounds is pressure relief for patients that are immobile.
Indeed this is a baby step in the long term of this technology. Costs are probably extraordinary at this time (maybe not when you consider the costs of treating one Stage IV...). Its exciting to see something like this and wonder what the future will bring to healthcare.