Pressure or bed sores can be life-threatening and range in severity from early Stage 1 skin redness to Stage 4 severe, deep craters with exposed muscle or bone. It is very important to detect and treat pressure sores early to prevent complications such as infection, sepsis or even gangrene. These sores are caused by constant pressure which disrupts blood supply to the area resulting in lack of oxygen and nutrients supply.
Common Sites for Pressure Sores (Cancer Research UK)
Pressure ulcers from Stage 1 to 4
Image AAFP David Klemm
What are the Causes of Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries are caused when an external force is applied to the skin resulting in tissue damage. These forces include;
Pressure (constant pressure on a part of a body) usually due to lying in one position for too long such as after stroke or surgery
Shear damage due to dragging forces such as sliding around the bed sheet or against a chair
Moisture from sweat, urine or faeces can increase risk of pressure injury
Click to view Cleveland Clinic video on Home Care for your Pressure Injuries
Management of Pressure Sores
Treatment of pressure sores required dedicated nursing care by wound care practitioners who will need to clean and dress the wound regularly with the appropriate choice of wound dressings. Each patient is different and as such, the healing rate will differ. Although more than 70% of stage 2 ulcers heal after six months of appropriate treatment, only 50% of stage 3 ulcers and 30% of stage 4 ulcers heal within this period. Factors which influence the healing rates include;
Disclaimer. TELEME blog posts contains general information about health conditions and treatments. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such.
If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating / 5. Vote count:
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
As you found this post useful...
Share it on social media!
We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!
