Bed Sores (Pressure Ulcers)

Overall Definition
    Also known as A Pressure Ulcer Bed sores are injuries to the skin or underlining tissue that happen when pressure and friction is applied to the area.


Common Areas
    Common areas are Hips, heels and the back the the cranium (the cranium is the skull).


Stages

Stage 1
Contact with soft skin or tissue resulting in a red wound. Darker skin may not show this stage but it's color can be different from some skin tones.

Stage 2
  Partial thickness in skin may result in a red wound or an blister. It also presents shiny or dry ulcer without showing some bruising.

Stage 3
   Full thickness and tissue loss, Tendons and muscle are not exposed. Can include tunneling ulcers can and might be shallow.

Stage 4
   Tissue loss and bone will be exposed. Can be shallow bone and tendons are exposed.

Stage 5
  Tissue loss with exposed bone, tendons and muscle. Often include tunneling.

Deep tissue Injury
  A purple or maroon colored of intact skin that is a result of pressure to soft tissue. Can be painful, mushy, soggy, and warmer/cooler. Can include a thin blister. Can be rapid exposing tissue.



Causes

Pressure of bone against surface of skin, only occurs if in position for a long period of time. Temperature can also cause one of these or make it worse if you are on a bed or a wheelchair. If friction is applied for a long period of time one can start to form.



Risks
  People who are handicapped have a better risk of getting one the the Ulcers. Can be predicded by using the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Ulcer Risk it shows siz stages, the stages are cognitive-perceptual, immobility, inactivity, moisture, nutrition, friction.




How To Prevent Bed Sores

The most important care for people at risk of getting a bed sore is the redistribution of pressure so that no pressure is applied. In the 1940's a doctor invented a way so that pressure would be taken off of bed sores every two hours to prevent them from getting worse or from getting them.


Information To Know
  Hospitals usually set up programs to avoid the happening or bed sores in patient who are bed ridden. They do this by turning the patient every two hours and it has been a tradition used for many years. For people with paralysis, pressure shifting on a regular basis and using a wheelchair cushion featuring pressure relief can help prevent a bed sore. Also if you control the heat being applied to the skin surface it is likely you will have a lower risk of developing a bed sore.



Treatment
  Tissue should be removed with bed sores that are open and where bone, muscles and tendons can be seen. Patients cannot sit down or lay down. For people with stages five and above a gel substance will be put in and skin that has been teared apart will be stitched back together.



 If you or anyone you know has a bed sore or are in concern of developing one tell your doctor.




Epimology
  Each year 2.5 million people develop bed sores in just the United States. the incidence of bedsores is 0.4% to 38%; within long-term care it is 2.2% to 23.9%, and in home care, it is 0% to 17%.



    These are the stages of Bed Sores (Pressure Ulcers)




I got all of this information from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_ulcer





582 Words And 3216 Characters