Overview

Bedsores — also called pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers — are injuries to skin and underlying tissue resulting from prolonged pressure on the skin. Bedsores most often develop on skin that covers bony areas of the body, such as the heels, ankles, hips and tailbone.

People most at risk of bedsores are those with a medical condition that limits their ability to change positions or those who spend most of their time in a bed or chair.

Bedsores can develop quickly. Most sores heal with treatment, but some never heal completely. You can take steps to help prevent bedsores and aid healing.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms

Warning signs of pressure ulcers are:

• Unusual changes in skin color or texture
• Swelling
• Pus-like draining
• An area of skin that feels cooler or warmer to the touch than other areas
• Tender areas

Bedsores fall into one of several stages based on their depth, severity and other characteristics. The degree of skin and tissue damage ranges from red, unbroken skin to a deep injury involving muscle and bone.

Common sites of pressure sores

For people who use a wheelchair, pressure sores often occur on skin over the following sites:

• Tailbone or buttocks
• Shoulder blades and spine
• Backs of arms and legs where they rest against the chair

For people who are confined to a bed, common sites include the following:

• Back or sides of the head
• Shoulder blades
• Hip, lower back or tailbone
• Heels, ankles and skin behind the knees

When to see a doctor

If you notice warning signs of a bedsore, change your position to relieve the pressure on the area. If you don't see improvement in 24 to 48 hours, contact your doctor.

Seek immediate medical care if you show signs of infection, such as a fever, drainage from a sore, a sore that smells bad, or increased redness, warmth or swelling around a sore.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Causes

Bedsores are caused by pressure against the skin that limits blood flow to the skin. Other factors related to limited mobility can make the skin vulnerable to damage and contribute to the development of pressure sores.

Three primary contributing factors for bedsores are:

• Pressure. Constant pressure on any part of your body can lessen the blood flow to tissues. Blood flow is essential to delivering oxygen and other nutrients to tissues. Without these essential nutrients, skin and nearby tissues are damaged and might eventually die.

  For people with limited mobility, this kind of pressure tends to happen in areas that aren't well-padded with muscle or fat and that lie over a bone, such as the spine, tailbone, shoulder blades, hips, heels and elbows.

• Friction. Friction occurs when the skin rubs against clothing or bedding. It can make fragile skin more vulnerable to injury, especially if the skin is also moist.
• Shear. Shear occurs when two surfaces move in the opposite direction. For example, when a bed is elevated at the head, you can slide down in bed. As the tailbone moves down, the skin over the bone might stay in place — essentially pulling in the opposite direction.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Diagnosis

Your doctor will look closely at your skin to determine whether you have a pressure ulcer and how bad the damage is. He or she will try to assign a stage to the wound. Staging helps determine what treatment is best for you. He or she might also order a blood test to assess your general health.

Questions from the doctor

Your doctor might ask questions such as:

• When did the pressure sore first appear?
• What is the degree of pain?
• Have you had pressure sores in the past?
• How were they managed, and what was the outcome of treatment?
• What kind of care assistance is available to you?
• What is your routine for changing positions?
• What medical conditions have you been diagnosed with, and what is your current treatment?
• What is your normal daily diet and fluid intake?

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Complications

Complications of pressure ulcers, some life-threatening, include:

• Cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and connected soft tissues. It can cause warmth, redness and swelling of the affected area. People with nerve damage often do not feel pain in the area affected by cellulitis.
• Bone and joint infections. An infection from a pressure sore can burrow into joints and bones. Joint infections (septic arthritis) can damage cartilage and tissue. Bone infections (osteomyelitis) can reduce the function of joints and limbs.
• Cancer. Long-term, nonhealing wounds (Marjolin's ulcers) can develop into a type of squamous cell carcinoma
• Sepsis. Rarely, a skin ulcer leads to sepsis.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Prevention

You can help prevent bedsores by frequently repositioning yourself to avoid stress on the skin. Other strategies include taking good care of your skin, maintaining good nutrition and fluid intake, quitting smoking, managing stress, and exercising daily.

Tips for repositioning

Consider the following recommendations related to repositioning in a bed or chair:

• Shift your weight frequently. If you use a wheelchair, try shifting your weight about every 15 minutes. Ask for help with repositioning about once an hour.
• Lift yourself, if possible. If you have enough upper body strength, do wheelchair pushups — raising your body off the seat by pushing on the arms of the chair.
• Look into a specialty wheelchair. Some wheelchairs allow you to tilt them, which can relieve pressure.
• Select cushions or a mattress that relieves pressure. Use cushions or a special mattress to relieve pressure and help ensure your body is well-positioned. Do not use doughnut cushions, as they can focus pressure on surrounding tissue.
• Adjust the elevation of your bed. If your bed can be elevated at the head, raise it no more than 30 degrees. This helps prevent shearing.

Tips for skin care

Consider the following suggestions for skin care:

• Keep skin clean and dry. Wash the skin with a gentle cleanser and pat dry. Do this cleansing routine regularly to limit the skin's exposure to moisture, urine and stool.
• Protect the skin. Use plain talcum powder to protect skin at friction points. Apply lotion to dry skin. Change bedding and clothing frequently if needed. Watch for buttons on the clothing and wrinkles in the bedding that irritate the skin.
• Inspect the skin daily. Look closely at your skin daily for warning signs of a pressure sore.

Coping and support

People with pressure sores might experience discomfort, pain, social isolation or depression. Talk with your care team about your needs for support and comfort. A social worker can help identify community groups that provide services, education and support for people dealing with long-term caregiving or terminal illness.

Parents or caregivers of children with pressure ulcers can talk with a child life specialist for help in coping with stressful health situations.

Family and friends of people living in assisted living facilities can be advocates for the residents and work with nursing staff to ensure proper preventive care.