Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management

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Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management
Introduction
Pressure ulcers are lesions on areas of the skin caused by unrelieved pressure. They cause a significant morbidity, mortality and disability in institutionalized patients and patients requiring long-term hospitalization. Pressure ulcers form from skin breakdown in areas that are compressed between bony tissue and a hard surface. The reduced blood circulation during the compression with the subsequent reperfusion leads to skin break down and necrosis and the development of pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers can be recurrent making treatment complex and can lead to infections and subsequent sepsis. Findings from a study by Bates-Jensen et al (2009) suggest that recurrent pressure ulcers...

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