ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to study other support surfaces. It discusses wheelchair design and modification, including some special cases. The chapter presents patient support surfaces for both the hospital bed and the operating table. Paralyzed patients spend their lifetime in a wheelchair or bed. One of the major complications facing them is pressure sores. For patients confined to bed, regular turning is an effective way of reducing the risk. Even for patients in the surgical environment on an operating table, regular relief is the most useful method of pressure sore prevention although this may not be common practice. Wheelchair patients frequently develop pressure sores on the buttocks because of sitting too long without lifting up to relieve the pressure. For preventing pressure sores, of course, many details of wheelchair design must be considered. A proper wheelchair for an individual should have proper armrest height, sling width and depth, backrest height, and footrest height.
