Mechanical restraints on the medical wards: are protective devices safe?

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Abstract
We prospectively identified 102 mechanically restrained hospital patients and determined their hospital course. The cohort was elderly, cognitively impaired with multiple chronic diseases. The in-hospital mortality was 21 percent. Nosocomial infection developed in 12 percent and new pressure sores in 22 percent. Prolonged use of restraints (> 4 days) was the strongest independent predictor of nosocomial infection (relative risk 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.8) and new pressure sores (RR 1.4, 95% CI - 1.1, 1.8) as determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. Patients placed in mechanical restraints for longer than four days experience frequent morbid events and should be monitored carefully.

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