A Biphasic Poroelastic Analysis of the Flow Dependent Subcutaneous Tissue Pressure and Compaction Due to Epidermal Loadings: Issues in Pressure Sore

Abstract

A layer of skin and subcutaneous tissue on a bony substratum was modeled as a homogeneous layer of biphasic poroelastic material with uniform thickness. The epidermal surface and the bony interface were taken to be impervious. The soft tissue on the bony interface was assumed either fully adhered or completely free to slide on the bone. The cases for surface pressure loadings and displacement controlled indentations were simulated. The resultant biomechanical responses of the layer, including the transient tissue hydrostatic pressure and the tissue compaction, were presented. A new hypothesis is offered to interpret the threshold pressure-time curve for pressure sores in term of the time required for a particular area in the tissue layer to reach a critical compaction for a given level of applied pressure.