The Truth about Decubitus UlcersCreated By: Kelsey Peck

What is a decubitus ulcer? A decubitus ulcer, also commonly known as a bedsore

comes about from lying in one position for too long.

This prevents circulation from getting to your skin, causing pressure.

This in turn, causes a decubitus ulcer.

http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2011/05/diseases/Pressure_Ulcer-2.gif

Who is at risk for Decubitus Ulcers?

o It is most common to see elderly people in nursing homes get decubitus ulcers, due to the fact that they lay in a bed practically all day or sit in the same position daily.

Smokers (dries out skin and reduces the blood flow to skin)

Anorexic people (less padding on their bones and it can injure more easily and take longer to heal)

http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/files/2010/04/elderly-940x626.jpg

http://patreiz.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/child-malnutrition.jpg

What causes Decubitus Ulcers?

Malnutrition

Improper skin care

Being Incontinent

Friction

Failure to move a patient frequently (in a nursing home)

Failure to exercise

http://madhusameer.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/anorexia-3.jpg

Common Homes for Decubitus Ulcers

Hips (laying on your side)

Tailbones (laying on your back)

Shoulders (laying on your side or resting your shoulders on the back of a wheelchair)

Backs of arms or legs (Leaning on the wheelchair)

Back or side of head(Laying on your back or laying on your side)

Stage 1 SymptomsStage 1

Skin is intact.

Skin may be red on a paler person.

Skin may appear bluish on darker skinned people.

The skin that is affected may be more painful, warmer, softer, or cooler than the surrounding skin. http://img.thebody.com/legacyAssets/40/74/

P25-1.gif

Stage 2 SymptomsStage 2-Open wound

The epidermis (outer layer of skin) and the dermis (underlying layer of skin) are both damaged or lost.

May appear as a shallow, pinkish-red, basin-like wound

May appear as a ruptured fluid-filled blister

http://img.thebody.com/legacyAssets/40/74/P25-2.gif

Stage 3 SymptomsStage 3-Deep wound

Fat is exposed due to the loss of skin

Crater-like in appearance

Bottom of ulcer has some yellowish colored dead tissue

http://img.thebody.com/legacyAssets/40/74/P25-3.gif

Stage 4 Symptoms

Stage 4-Large Scale loss of tissue

May expose bone, muscle, or tendons

The bottom of the ulcer contains yellowish or dark colored dead tissue that is crusty

http://www.eczema-answers.com/images/bed_sores2.jpg

Treating Decubitus ulcers Relieve the pressure that caused the sore to

start with Reposition the person Use support surfaces such as pillows and mattresses to help the person

lie in an appropriate position

Remove the damaged tissue Surgical Debridement: removing dead tissue surgically Mechanical Debridement: removing dead tissue using things such as a

whirlpool Autolytic Debridement- the body’s natural way of removing dead tissue Enzymatic Debridement-removing dead tissue using chemical enzymes

Clean and dress the wound regularly The way you dress and clean the wound depends on what stage is it in.

Other ways to treat decubitus ulcers

• Antibiotics

• Healthy diet

• Muscle relaxants

If your decubitus ulcers do not heal after taking the treatment measures just mentioned, your doctor may give you muscle relaxants, antibiotics, or tell you to go on a healthy diet to help treat your ulcers.

How to prevent Decubitus Ulcers from forming again?

Keeping skin clean and dry

Changing position every two hours

Using pillows and products that relieve pressure

Keeping your skin clean and dry prevents moisture.

Changing position every two hours prevents you from putting pressure on one spot for too long.

Using pillows and other products can help prevent sores by being a cushion for your body.

Facts/Statistics In 2010, pressure ulcers were the primary

diagnosis in approximately 45,000 hospital admissions.

Pressure ulcers were a secondary diagnosis in about 457,800 hospital admissions last year.

The primary diagnoses left 1 dead in every 25 patients.

The secondary diagnoses left 1 dead in every 8 patients.

Works Cited http://www.nursing-home-abuse-resource.com/care_c

enter/decubitus-causes.html

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/190115-overview

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedsores/DS00570/DSECTION=symptoms

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedsores/DS00570/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

http://www.drugs.com/cg/how-to-prevent-pressure-sores.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6366/is_3_21/ai_n31950894/