What is a pressure sore?

Ulcer fr. immobility: When someone sits or lies in the same position for hours at a time a breakdown of skin can happen, particularly over boney prominences like sacrum, ankle or heel. This is most often seen in paralyzed patients who have no feeling in extremities and are unable to turn themselves. Frequent repositioning, at least every 2 hours and pressure relief mattresses will help prevent ulcers.

Skin erosion/ulcer: If some point of a person is pushed by his weight against a hard surface the skin gets necrotic or ischemic ( without circulation) and breaks causing tears, erosions (superficial ulcers) and full thickness ulcers in the affected skin than are very difficult to heal and get infected. Elderly, malnourished, bed bound or immobile pts. Diabetics, poor circulation & if on cortisone have diff. Healing.

Cause Pressure Sore: Pressure causes a bed sore. One unknown is how long does it take a pressure ulcer to develop. There are many risk factors including diabetes mellitus, low blood pressure, moisture from incontinence or perspiration, fungal infection, use of medical devices, etc. We simply do not know for an individual patient whether rotating them every five minutes or every two hours will prevent pressure injury.