(Front of sheet, arrange in any way)

Pressure Ulcers Facts

What are Pressure Ulcers?

A pressure ulcer (a bedsore or pressure sore) is a dark or red area, a break or a deep, craterlikewound in the skin caused by pressure. Pressure ulcers usually develop over bony parts ofthe body – the tailbone, hips, heels, elbows, shoulders. Pressure ulcers can be dangerous and painful for a resident, in part because broken skin canallow infection into the body. If untreated, pressure ulcers can deepen and even expose thebone. Deeper ulcers may be hard to heal or may not heal at all. Sometimes, pressure ulcers can

lead to serious medical complications and even death.

What factors increase risks of a Pressure Ulcer?

  • Sitting or lying too long in one place
  • Sitting in wet clothing or a wet bed
  • Not getting enough food and water
  • Having many chronic conditions at one time
  • Using multiple medications that cause drowsiness, confusion or loss of appetite
  • Using physical restraints

Stages of Pressure Ulcers:

Stage I - Intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area, usually over a bony prominence. Darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching; its color may differ from the surrounding area.

Stage II- Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red/pink wound bed, without slough. May also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum filled blister.

Stage III - Full thickness skin loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle are not exposed. Slough may be present but does not obscure the depth of tissue loss. May include undermining/tunneling.

Stage IV - Full thickness skin loss with exposed bone, tendon or muscle. Slough or eschar may be present on some parts of the wound bed. Often include undermining and tunneling.

Unstageable- Full thickness tissue loss in which the base of the ulcer is covered by slough (yellow, tan, gray, green or brown) and/or eschar (tan, brown or black) in the wound bed.

(Suspected Deep) Tissue Injury - Purple or maroon localized area of discolored intact skin or blood-filled blister due to damage of underlying soft tissue from pressure and/or shear. The area may be preceded by tissue that is painful, firm, mushy, boggy, warmer or cooler as compared to adjacent tissue.

How can you prevent Pressure Ulcers?

Some residents have pressure ulcers when they arrive at a nursing home. Residents withoutpressure ulcers on arrival may develop them later on. Skin changes and pressure ulcers candevelop quickly. Routine skin checks are a key to good care.

Is there treatment for Pressure Ulcers?

The healing process varies depending on the stage of the pressure ulcer. Stage I & II pressure ulcers and partial thickness wounds heal by tissue regeneration. Stage III & IV pressure ulcers and full thickness wounds heal by scar formation and contraction.