Pressure ulcer research issues in surgical patients.

This paper focuses on key pressure ulcer research issues in surgical patients pertaining to incidence, risk assessment, temporality, methodology, and interpretation and utilization of findings. The recent emphasis on the effect of intraoperative events on pressure ulcer occurrence is discussed in terms of the underlying conceptualization, theoretical and empirical evidence, and consequences for research. The ongoing quest for predictors of pressure ulcers in surgical patients and the results of clinical studies in this population illustrate the limitations of current pressure ulcer risk assessment instruments; therefore, an example of an alternative risk assessment strategy for surgical patients is presented. Addressing these issues in a timely fashion is important given their potential impact on future research and the growing interest in studying pressure ulcers in surgical patients.