Pressure Ulcers

by Rhonda Erdey, 1 May 2007

Preventing pressure sores is an on going concern for confined to bed patients.  Staying healthy eating nutritional foods and following your caregiver and doctors health plan will help with keeping the skin healthy thus preventing occurrence of pressure sores. As with any other disease pressure sores are easier to prevent than to treat.

Bedsores, more accurately called pressure sores decubitus ulcer, ischemic ulcer, skin sore or pressure ulcers, are areas of damaged skin and tissue that develop when sustain pressure for a prolong periods of time.  Body parts with inadequate blood flow such as such as the elbows, head ears, shoulders, hips, tail bone, buttock, inner knees and most often heels are highly acceptable to pressure sores. Pressure ulcers treatment is a long and difficult process and develops into serious complications such as infections affecting respiratory tract, urinary tract leading to surgery, extended bed rest and even amputation or life threatening illness.

Risk Factors for Pressure sores

Individuals with wheelchairs or bedridden due to prolong illness, paralysis or injury can develop pressure sore very quickly due to the following factors. :

• Areas with little fat and muscle are open to pressure sores.
• Inadequate mobility with sustained pressure on the body.
• Moisture from fluid, urine and bowel incidents will weaken the skin causing break down of skin.
• Loss of feeling in part of the body can cause pressure sores,
• Moving a patient in properly can tear, cut or rub which can cause damage to the skin that will break down to pressure ulcers.

Stages of Bedsores

Skin redness, which does not clear up from a pressure point with in 30 minutes, could be a sign of a pressure sore starting in the underlying skin. Dark and discolored spots on the skin are very serious signs of pressure ulcer beginning stages.

Stage I of a pressure sore.

The skin area will become red; feel warm, spongy or firm when touched. The sore can become slightly pain full and itchy. Dark skin the skin will discolor to a blue or purple shade, look flaky, or dry.
Epidermal and dermal layers that are the top two layers of skin have limited damage.
Normal Stage I pressure sores can be easily treated and goes away quickly.

Stage II of a pressure sore.

When this stage begins the outermost layer of the skin will start to look like a blister or an abrasion and the surrounding tissue can be reddened or purplish color. At this stage the sore will take longer to heal.

Stage III of a pressure sore

At this point the pressure sore has become apparent with open as a crator like in the skin opening where the tissue has died off. This is the sign of serious problem and it will take extreme care and good health practices to heal.

Stage IV of a pressure sore

At Stage IV is the most advance stage of a pressure sore. At this stage the wound had become very large. Additionally damage to the soft tissue, muscle, bone, tendons and joints can accrue. Blood infections are more apparent at this stage. This is a very dangerous stage and should be treated only by qualified professional.

Pressure Sores Treatment

Bed sore prevention is relatively simple process and should be easy to follow.

Research by scientist of Melbourne University has proven that Medical Sheepskin overlays and protectors can reduce occurrence of pressure ulcer by 58%. Sheepskin overlays have a natural ability to redistribute body weight evenly, wool fibers promote proper air circulation insolate against heat and cold as well as absorb moisture. Sheepskin keeps patient dry, comfortable and protected against the development of bedsores

Contact your doctor at the first signs of the pressure sores.
The doctor will develop treatment plan that is needed to heal the sores and prevent the conditions from worsening. Follow this plan to the fullest.

When attending to the sores at home ensure that patient area is often cleaned and bed dressing is regularly changed and washed. If you are using sheepskin that is laundered often. Wash your hands before and after taking care of a pressure sore. This is important to prevent spreading of infection and causing more damage.