pressure sores

Pressure sores are areas of injured skin and tissue caused by constant pressure. Pressure sores usually are caused by sitting in one position for too long. When a change in sitting or lying position doesn’t occur enough and the pressure reduces blood supply to the skin, as a result a sore may form. Pressure sores are also called bedsores, and pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers can range in severity from patches of discoloured skin to open wounds that expose the underlying bone or muscle.

When to see a doctor:
If you notice early signs or symptoms of a pressure ulcer, 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 fever, drainage or a foul odor from a sore or increased heat and redness in the surrounding skin.
For people who use a wheelchair, pressure sores often occur on skin areas such as buttocks, shoulders blades, spine, backs of arms and legs. For those who are confined to bed common sites include rim of the ears, hip, lower back, heels, ankles and knees.

Treatment of Pressure Sores:
Treatment for pressure ulcers includes the use of dressings, creams and gels designed to speed up the healing process and relieve pressure. Bedsores that fail to heal may require surgery. The goals of pressure sores surgery include improving the hygiene and appearance of the sore, preventing or treating infection, reducing fluid loss through the wound, and lowering the risk of cancer.