Question 1

how long does it take for pressure ulcers to form?

Accepted Answer

Duration for PUs: Pressure ulcers are due to 'enough' pressure to occlude the blood pressure of the microscopic capillaries. No one is sure how long it you must occlude these capillaries so that a pressure injury results in changes in the skin. It will vary from person to person because of multiple factors in addition to time: repeated episodes, moisture, nutrition, protein stores, ability to heal, diabetes mellitu.

Question 2

what is the prevalence of pressure ulcers in the u.s.?

Accepted Answer

2.5 million in USA: This is an estimate and represents the number of TREATED pressure sores. The incidence is likely to be much much higher.
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/epidemiology-pathogenesis-and-risk-assessment-of-pressure-ulcers?source=outline_link&amp;view=text&amp;anchor=H2#H2For a good summary:

Question 3

how do pressure ulcers form?

Accepted Answer

Multifactorial: Pressure ulcers are rare, though possible in the young - as in a 10 hour back surgery.  It is more common in the elderly / infirmed with issues like stroke related paralysis/paresis, cachexia, metabolic problems like diabetes  and chronic illness like kidney disease.  Add prolonged pressure to the above, even healthy looking tissue will breakdown and not heal properly.

Question 4

why do pressure ulcers have to be elevated?

Accepted Answer

Pressure relief: Pressure ulcers need relief of the pressure as the primary treatment. A moist wound environment, treatment of infection, removal of dead tissue and treatment of poor nutrition/ diabetes/ poor circulation (pad) are also very important. Elevation of a leg pressure ulcer would be to relieve pressure or if there is swelling. It depends on the location of the wound.

Question 5

does being in a wheelchair cause pressure ulcers?

Accepted Answer

Wheelchair: Not necessarily so. Your wheelchair and cushion should be assessed by someone knowledgeable with this type of equipment. For example, there are seating specialists (physical therapists) that can evaluate you and  your needs and order the correct equipment.

Question 6

how is it that recently healed pressure ulcers still have to be elevated?

Accepted Answer

Not done yet: Bedsores are caused by unrelieved pressure on the soft tissues overlying a bony area.  The key is to keep them off the area to allow healing. Once damaged, the tissues heal through inflammation which is the bodies way to get fresh healing blood to the injured area.  These tissues only regain 80% of their original strength which may take months to years to occur.  Injury recurs easily with pressure.

Question 7

what is involved in debridement of pressure ulcers, decubitus?

Accepted Answer

Debridement: Debridement is a term that wound specialist use to describe the action of removing contents from the inside of the wound. There are many categories of debridement. For example, chemical debridements are the application of a surface product that chemically breaksdown the components on the surface of a wound. Surgical debridement is the use of sharp instruments to remove and enlarge a wound.

Question 8

how much  pro-stat away  aday should i give my lady she is 93years old she has a small pressure ulcers on her bottom .....?

Accepted Answer

Pressure relief: Is what is needed in addition to good nutrition. Prostat is a protein drink (good) that may help poor nutrition, but will not do anything to relieve pressure. She needs better padding, periodic offloading, and good wound care to prevent a small ulcer from becoming a much bigger problem. This may be partially failure to heal, but usually is a failure to reduce pressure on bony areas adequatelely.

Question 9

what happens when there is a debridement of pressure ulcers or decubitus?

Accepted Answer

Debridement: Debridement of a pressure sore consists of removing all dead tissue to help the wound heal. This is done with several instruments including scalpel.

Question 10

how do undermining and tunneling differ in regards to stage 4 pressure ulcers?

Accepted Answer

Undermining: Undermining occurs beneath the skin surface in continuation with the ulcer. Tunneling can occur in a deeper plane f the wound base.

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Doctor answers about:

How long does it take for pressure ulcers to form

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How long does it take for pressure ulcers to form?

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What is the prevalence of pressure ulcers in the u.s.?

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How do pressure ulcers form?

A member asked:

Why do pressure ulcers have to be elevated?

A member asked:

Does being in a wheelchair cause pressure ulcers?

A member asked:

How is it that recently healed pressure ulcers still have to be elevated?

A member asked:

What is involved in debridement of pressure ulcers, decubitus?

A member asked:

How much pro-stat away aday should i give my lady she is 93years old she has a small pressure ulcers on her bottom .....?

A member asked:

What happens when there is a debridement of pressure ulcers or decubitus?

A member asked:

How do undermining and tunneling differ in regards to stage 4 pressure ulcers?

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