The Norton Scale was developed in the 1960s and is widely used to assess the risk of pressure ulcers (scaling) in adult patients. The five Norton Scale scores are added together for a total score ranging from 5 to 20. A lower Norton score indicates higher levels of risk for developing pressure ulcers.
Tars are local tissue changes caused by long-term compression between the bony prominences and the bed surface. Eschar are lesions interposed between two planes: bone and bed. The tissues are not sufficiently irrigated, blood supply is reduced, cells die, and so scars develop. decubitus. (See Scale - Prevention Care Treatment)
What is the Norton scale?
There are several scales to assess patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers: the Norton scale, the Braden scale and the Waterlow scale. The Norton scale assesses five areas on a four-point scale: physical condition, mental condition, activity, mobility and incontinence.
Each of these factors is rated on a scale where 4 points are given for low risk and 1 point for high risk.
Norton scale results
The sum of these points generates a degree of risk to which the person under analysis is exposed regarding the occurrence and development of pressure ulcers:
- over 18 low risk
- between 18 - 14 risk Medium
- between 14-10 high risk
- under 10 very high risk
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