Use of weight-bearing MRI for evaluating wheelchair cushions based on internal soft-tissue deformations under ischial tuberosities.

Deep tissue injury (DTI) is a severe type of pressure ulcer, in which damage initiates under intact skin, in soft tissues that are mechanically deformed by load-bearing bony prominences. Sitting-acquired DTI typically occurs in the gluteus muscles that could sustain deformations by the weight-bearing ischial tuberosities (ITs). No clinical method currently exists for measuring internal tissue deformations; so design and selection of wheelchair cushions are based mostly on measuring sitting pressures.

Evaluation of the effect of trunk tilt on compressive soft tissue deformations under the ischial tuberosities using weight-bearing MRI.

Background: Deep tissue injury is the new acceptable term for deep pressure ulcers. Deep tissue injury of the buttocks is typically caused by sustained soft tissue deformations under the ischial tuberosities. Wheelchair users are at high risk, and although usually laterally tilted, the effect of tilts on tissue deformations is unknown.