A New Health Strategy to Prevent Pressure Ulcer Formation in Paraplegics using Computer and Sensory Substitution via the Tongue

TL;DR

This paper explores a novel method using tongue-based sensory substitution to help paraplegics detect and prevent pressure ulcers, showing promising initial results in healthy subjects that could inform future clinical applications.

Contribution

It introduces an innovative health strategy employing computer and sensory substitution via the tongue to compensate for sensory loss in paraplegics, aiming to prevent pressure ulcers.

Findings

92% success rate in healthy subjects during initial tests

Feasibility demonstrated for creating adaptive behaviors based on tongue stimulation

Potential to improve pressure ulcer prevention in paraplegic patients

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are recognized as a major health issue in individuals with spinal cord injuries and new approaches to prevent this pathology are necessary. An innovative health strategy is being developed through the use of computer and sensory substitution via the tongue in order to compensate for the sensory loss in the buttock area for individuals with paraplegia. This sensory compensation will enable individuals with spinal cord injuries to be aware of a localized excess of pressure at the skin/seat interface and, consequently, will enable them to prevent the formation of pressure ulcers by relieving the cutaneous area of suffering. This work reports an initial evaluation of this approach and the feasibility of creating an adapted behavior, with a change in pressure as a response to electro-stimulated information on the tongue. Obtained during a clinical study in 10 healthy seated subjects, the first results are encouraging, with 92% success in 100 performed tests. These results, which have to be completed and validated in the paraplegic population, may lead to a new approach to education in health to prevent the formation of pressure ulcers within this population.