The Truth about Decubitus Ulcers Created By: Kelsey Peck.
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Transcript of The Truth about Decubitus Ulcers Created 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/