Pressure Ulcers

Last time I said we would transition from falls to pressure ulcers, and I think this week we'll start with a brief description of what a pressure ulcer is.

Nearly everyone has suffered from a  stage 2 pressure ulcer at some point in their life, but we don't call them that when we're not in the hospital.  We call them blisters.

Pressure ulcers form from a combination of factors, but two of the biggest factors are rubbing and moisture (just like when you get a blister in your shoe).  Pressure ulcers can occur everywhere on the body, but there are a few spots where they are more likely to occur.  Those spots are the hips, buttocks, and heels of the feet. They form in these spots because they're the most difficult to relieve the pressure on, and the most likely to maintain moisture if there is moisture in the environment.

Pressure ulcers when caught in the early stages can be healed without much work, much like the blister on your heel that you keep clean and dry and dressed until it heals. It is important to recognize a pressure ulcer in the early stages and work on healing the ulcer as soon as it is recognized.

There are 6 overall categories for pressure ulcers (not necessarily in order of importance)

1. DTI
2. Stage 1
3. Stage 2
4. Stage 3
5. Stage 4
6. Unstageable.

The first two stages may not be recognized in patients with dark skin as the surface skin isn't open and redness and under skin damage can be difficult to assess. This is why it's important to turn and reposition regularly and prevent skin breakdown from happening.  Over the next few weeks we'll focus on one stage at a time and discuss the importance of each stage and suggested treatments.  As always a good legal nurse consultant can make a world of difference in these cases, as they can provide insight into the specific development of pressure ulcers, and any contribution the patient may have had.