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/wpcontent/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/amomentofscie
nce/files/2010/04/elderly-940x626.jpg
http://patreiz.files.wordpress.com/2011/0
2/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.wordpr
ess.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
Stage 1 Symptoms

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/P2
5-1.gif
Stage 2 Symptoms
Stage 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 Symptoms
Stage 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.eczemaanswers.com/images/bed_sores2.jpg
Treating Decubitus ulcers

Relieve the pressure that caused the sore to
start with



Remove the damaged tissue





Reposition the person
Use support surfaces such as pillows and mattresses to help the
person lie in an appropriate position
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 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.

Keeping skin clean and dry

Changing position every
two hours

Using pillows and products
that relieve pressure
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-abuseresource.com/care_center/decubitus-causes.html

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/190115overview

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-pressuresores.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6366/is_3_21/ai_
n31950894/