Overview:
- Bedsores (pressure sores) are skin and soft tissue damage as a result of prolonged pressure on it due to lying down, usually occurs in patients with paralysis or coma
- Bedsore’s common location is:
- back or sides of the head.
- shoulder blades.
- Coccyx and buttock
- heels, ankles and skin behind the knees.
Etiology:
- Constant pressure on tissue reduces flow of blood to these tissues and thus reduces access of oxygen and other nutrients to these tissues, which leads to damage and necrosis
- Contact of wet skin with mattress or wheelchair
Causes:
Risk factors include:
- Lack of movement as paralysis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Ischemic diseases
- Urinary incontinence
- Fecal incontinence where skin is wet and contaminated all time
- Absence of sensation in injury area leads to deterioration of case
- Infection of soft tissue may occur
Diagnosis:
- clinical examination
Treatment:
- Turning and repositioning every 2 hours.
- Sitting upright and straight in a wheelchair, changing position every 15 minutes.
- Providing soft padding in wheelchairs and beds to reduce pressure.
- Providing good skin care by keeping the skin clean and dry
- Wound care
- Surgery: full thickness flap covering open wounds.
