Pressure sores
Updated July 2006
Skin ulcers develop in pressure spots, affecting people with limited mobility.
If people are paralysed or immobile, even for a few hours, small areas of their skin are subject to constant pressure from their own body weight. This pressure may restrict the normal supply of blood to the tissues. Sometimes, an area of tissue dies, leading to open sores, called pressure sores or bedsores. These usually affect older people, who are more likely to be immobile and have fragile skin. Urinary incontinence may contribute to the development of pressure sores if it causes the skin to be continually damp. Common sites for pressure sores are the shoulders, hips and ankles.
The symptoms appear in the following stages:
- affected areas of skin start to become red and tender
- painful areas become purple
- the skin breaks down to form ulcers
Bedridden people or those with limited mobility should have their skin checked regularly for signs of redness and tenderness. A bedridden person should have his or her position changed at least every two hours to relieve compression of the affected areas. It is important to keep the skin clean and dry. If a sore becomes infected, antibiotics may be necessary. Usually, pressure sores gradually heal with treatment and good nutrition to improve the person's general health, but deep ulcers may take several months to clear up. If they are extensive, plastic surgery may be necessary to promote healing.
Prevention of pressure sores is the key to good outcomes as the development of sores often heralds a poor outcome and risk of death.
Further information:
- MedlinePlus Health Topics - Pressure sores
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopaedia - Pressure sores