Proportion of spinal cord injury patients who develop decubitus ulcers is approximately?

• A. 1/5
• B. 1/3
• C. 1/2
• D. 2/3

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how common pressure ulcers are in people with spinal cord injury. In this population, limited mobility and loss of protective sensation mean prolonged pressure over bony areas can lead to tissue damage, and other factors such as moisture, incontinence, poor nutrition, and impaired perfusion further raise the risk.

About one third of spinal cord injury patients develop decubitus ulcers at some point. This estimate captures the typical prevalence seen in many care settings and highlights why prevention is crucial: regular repositioning, pressure-relieving surfaces, careful skin inspection, moisture management, and nutritional optimization are essential to reduce the risk and catch early signs before ulcers worsen.

Other proportions would overstate or understate the commonality in most SCI care populations. For example, a much smaller figure would imply ulcers are rare, while a figure around half or more would suggest ulcers are nearly universal, which is not the usual observation in standard clinical practice.