Pressure Ulcers

Patients at high risk for developing pressure ulcers include bedridden patients, paraplegics, or quadriplegics. A patient with impaired physical function, impaired mental function, impaired mobility, and/or incontinence is also at high risk of developing a pressure ulcer. Tissue breakdown occurs when too much pressure is applied to one area for a prolonged period of time. This typically occurs most commonly close to a bony prominence. Pressure ulcers commonly occur over the buttocks, hips, spine, shoulder, ankles, and heels. The key to pressure ulcer prevention requires the education of health care professionals, patients, families, and/or caregivers.

General principles of pressure ulcer treatment include:

• Pressure relief over bony prominences
• Removal of dead tissue
• Optimization of the wound environment to promote healing
• Avoidance of trauma, friction, and shear force
• Searching for underlying conditions which may cause ulcer development or impede wound healing