What is a Pressure Ulcer?
Previously called decubitus or bed sore, a pressure ulcer is the result of damage caused by pressure over time causing an ischemia of underlying structures. Bony prominences are the most common sites and causes.
There are many risk factors that contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. CMS (2004) recommends patients in LTC be assessed for risk on admission, weekly for the first four weeks then reassessed quarterly
When to Get Medical Advice
If you’re in the hospital or a care home, tell your healthcare team as soon as possible if you develop symptoms of a pressure ulcer. It’ll probably continue to get worse if nothing is done about it.
You should be regularly monitored and offered advice and treatment to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers, but sometimes they can develop even with the highest standards of care.
If you’re recovering from illness or surgery at home, or you’re caring for someone confined to bed or who is a wheelchair user, contact your GP surgery if you think you or the person you’re caring for might have a pressure ulcer.
Get medical advice immediately if there is:
- red, swollen skin
- pus coming from the pressure ulcer or wound
- cold skin and a fast heartbeat
- severe or worsening pain
- a high temperature
These symptoms could be a sign of a serious infection that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Treatments for Pressure Ulcers
Treatments for pressure ulcers depend on how severe they are.
For some people, they’re an inconvenience that needs basic nursing care. For others, they can be serious and lead to life-threatening complications, such as blood poisoning.
Ways to stop pressure ulcers getting worse and help them heal include:
- Applying dressings that speed up the healing process and may help to relieve pressure
- Moving and regularly changing your position
- Using specially designed static foam mattresses or cushions, or dynamic mattresses and cushions that have a pump to provide a constant flow of air
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Aprocedure to clean the wound and remove damaged tissue (debridement)
- Surgery to remove damaged tissue and close the wound is sometimes used in the most serious cases.
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, changes in skin color, warmth or swelling around a sore.
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To make an appointment with our healthcare professional and specialists, submit your appointment request or call us at +1-817-386-8886.
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What is a Pressure Ulcer?
Previously called decubitus or bed sore, a pressure ulcer is the result of damage caused by pressure over time causing an ischemia of underlying structures. Bony prominences are the most common sites and causes.
There are many risk factors that contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. CMS (2004) recommends patients in LTC be assessed for risk on admission, weekly for the first four weeks then reassessed quarterly
If you’re in the hospital or a care home, tell your healthcare team as soon as possible if you develop symptoms of a pressure ulcer. It’ll probably continue to get worse if nothing is done about it.
You should be regularly monitored and offered advice and treatment to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers, but sometimes they can develop even with the highest standards of care.
If you’re recovering from illness or surgery at home, or you’re caring for someone confined to bed or who is a wheelchair user, contact your GP surgery if you think you or the person you’re caring for might have a pressure ulcer.
Get medical advice immediately if there is:
- red, swollen skin
- pus coming from the pressure ulcer or wound
- cold skin and a fast heartbeat
- severe or worsening pain
- a high temperature
These symptoms could be a sign of a serious infection that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Treatments for pressure ulcers depend on how severe they are.
For some people, they’re an inconvenience that needs basic nursing care. For others, they can be serious and lead to life-threatening complications, such as blood poisoning.
Ways to stop pressure ulcers getting worse and help them heal include:
- Applying dressings that speed up the healing process and may help to relieve pressure
- Moving and regularly changing your position
- Using specially designed static foam mattresses or cushions, or dynamic mattresses and cushions that have a pump to provide a constant flow of air
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Aprocedure to clean the wound and remove damaged tissue (debridement)
- Surgery to remove damaged tissue and close the wound is sometimes used in the most serious cases.
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, changes in skin color, warmth or swelling around a sore.
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