Pressure sores develop due to prolonged pressure on skin over bony areas, which reduces blood flow. Common sites are the sacrum, heels, hips and elbows. Prevention focuses on relieving pressure through repositioning, special mattresses, and pads. Early signs are redness or pain in an area. Untreated sores worsen and become deeper wounds with infection risks. Treatment involves cleaning, dressing changes, and surgery if needed to close severe wounds.

2. Introduction
 A bed sore is an ulcer occurring on the skin of any bed ridden patient.
 Particularly over bony prominences or where two skin surfaces press
against one another.
 Due to pressure the circulation becomes slow and finally death
[necrosis] of the tissue occurs.
Bedsores — also called pressure ulcers and
decubitus ulcers — are injuries to skin and
underlying tissue resulting from prolonged
pressure on the skin.

3. Common sites
of pressure
sore
• Occiput, scapula, sacral region, hips, elbows, heels.
Supine
position
• Ears, acromion process of the shoulder, greater
trochanter of the hip, mideal and lateral condyles
of the knee and malleolus of the ankle joint.
Side lying
position
• Acromion process, knees and toes
Prone
position

6. Prone position

7. Causes of Bed Sore
Actual/
Direct/
immediate
Friction
Moisture
Pressure of
pathogenic
organism

8. A. Actual / Direct / Immediate
causes
 PRESSURE - Pressure is the basic cause of the bed sore. In
a sick person the areas of tissue resting against mattress are
valnerable areas. The pressure in these areas causes
depletion of blood supply. So there is no blood supply to the
weight bearing areas which results into the tissue damage.
 The pressure is caused by
weight of
the body
Splints,
Casts
Bandages.

9. FRICTION
 FRICTION of the skin with rough bedding
causes injury to the skin.
 Wrinkles in the drawsheet or other bed
clothes.
 Crumbs of food in the bed.
 Chipped or rough bedpan and its careless
handling.
 Hard surfaces of plaster casts and splints.

10. MOISTURE
 MOISTURE - The skin contact with moisture for a prolong
period can lead to maceration of the skin.
Patient lying
on wet
bedding
Incontinence
of urine and
stools
Severe
perspiration
Body
discharges

11. PRESSURE OF PATHOGENIC
ORGANISMS –
A. Due to unhygienic condition pathogenic organism
multiplies and infection settles on the skin.
B. Predisposing or Indirect causes.-Paralysis and limitation of
movements. Emaciated and malnourished patients.
Oedematous patients, whose tissues are swollen with an
accumulation of fluid. Very old with sluggish circulation.
Obese patients. Patients with spinal injury. In continent
patient. Patient with long term illness, fracture patients.

12. Signs and symptoms of Bed
sore
 The early symptoms of bed sore are - redness, heat,
tenderness, smarting and discomfort in the area.
 The area becomes cold to touch and insensitive.
 Local oedema also present.

13.  Later symptoms are - area becomes blue, purple or mottled.
Due to continued pressure the circulation is cut off, the
gangrene develops and affected area is sloughed off.

15. Bedsores are divided into 4 stages, from
least severe to most severe. These are:
 Stage 1. The area looks red and feels warm to the touch. With
darker skin, the area may have a blue or purple tint. The
person may also complain that it burns, hurts, or itches.
 Stage 2. The area looks more damaged and may have an open
sore, scrape, or blister. The person complains of significant
pain and the skin around the wound may be discolored.

16.  Stage 3. The area has a crater-like appearance due to
damage below the skin's surface.
 Stage 4. The area is severely damaged and a large
wound is present. Muscles, tendons, bones, and joints
can be involved. Infection is a significant risk at this
stage.

17. Prevention of Bed sore
IDENTIFICATION-
Identify the
patients who are
prone to the
development of bed
sores.

18. Prevention of Bed sore
DAILY OBSERVATION - Daily observation of the bed
sore prone patient for redness, discoloration or
blister on pressure points and they should be
reported and treated immediately.

19. Prevention of Bed sore
POSITIONING
- Change the
position
every 2
hourly

20. Prevention of Bed sore
MASSAGE-Stimulate
circulation by
regular washing
and massage of
all areas exposed
to pressure.

21. a) Frequent
movement of
helpless
patients, if
permitted, in
order to change
their position.
Relieve
pressure
by

22. b) Use the comfort
devices to take off
the pressure from the
pressure points e.g.
air cushions, air rings
etc.
Relieve
pressure
by

23.  Avoid using rubber rings because, they
compress the area of the skin beneath them.
So blood supply is decreased around the
pressure points.
 Loosening tight bandages.
 Padding pressure points inside plaster casts.
Relieve
pressure
by

24.  Use of pillows to separate parts so that
they do not press one another.
 Use air or water mattresses to decrease
the pressure on bony parts
 Allow the patient to get up and walk about
as soon as the doctor gives permission
Relieve
pressure
by

25.  Well made beds free from crumbs
and wrinkles, and with the bottom
bedding tightly tucked in.
 Do not use badly chipped or rough
bedpans or drag out bedpans
from under the patient without
lifting the patient.
Avoid
Friction By

26.  Use adequate amount of cotton under splints and
plaster casts to avoid friction.
 Restriction to use sand bags to prevent friction of
extremities or head in restless patient, with
constant movements.
Avoid
Friction By

27.  Immediate changing of any damp linen.
 Absolute cleanliness and dryness of the skin,
particularly where two skin surface come together.
 After each urination and defecation back must be
attended.
 Wipe off perspiration and keep the patient dry.
Avoid
Moisture
By

28.  Care of hands to injury by any way.
 Care while giving and removing bedpan to avoid
scratching the skin.
 Help must be taken while giving and removing
bedpans to heavy and seriously ill patients.
 Care in the use of appliances such as splints, must
be well padded and not too tightly applied.
Prevent
Injury
By

29.  Give a well balanced diet with plenty of
vitamins and proteins which will help to
keep the tissues healthy and reduce the
risk of bed sores.
 Ask the patient to take adequate fluids.
Diet

30. Curative Treatment
Bed sore is due to the carelessness of the nurse. But if develops do as follows
 Report to the sister in charge and doctor the early symptoms
of a bed sore so that steps may be taken as early as possible to
prevent further damage.
 Prevent the ulcerated area from becoming infected.
 Use normal saline to clean the ulcered area.

31. Curative Treatment
 Apply heat for the healing of the wound.
 Use 100 watt electric bulb for 10 minutes.
 Apply zinc oxide [water proof] ointment on the surface
of the wound which will prevent the infection of under
lying tissues.

32. Curative Treatment
 It is very helpful. In patients with incontinence of urine. If
slough is present, clean the area thoroughly twice in a day
with hydrogen peroxide diluted with distilled water.
 Cut off the slough if it is loose. If there is delay in wound
healing, the surgeon may debride the ulcer and a skin graft
may be taken over the ulcerated area. If there is infection,
give antibiotics according to doctor order.

33. Complications
 Cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and connected soft
tissues. It can cause warmth, inflammation and swelling of the
affected area. People with nerve damage often do not feel pain in the
area affected by cellulitis.
 Bone and joint infections. An infection from a pressure sore can
burrow into joints and bones. Joint infections (septic arthritis) can
damage cartilage and tissue. Bone infections (osteomyelitis) can
reduce the function of joints and limbs.

34.  Cancer. Long-term, nonhealing wounds (Marjolin's
ulcers) can develop into a type of squamous cell
carcinoma.
 Sepsis. Rarely, a skin ulcer leads to sepsis.