Pressure Sores

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

Areas of skin necrosis usually over bony prominence

Question 2

What are the causes?

Answer 2

Pressure forces
Shear forces- sliding down bed or chair
Moisture- sweat, urine faces
Friction

Question 3

What are the risk factors?

Answer 3

Waterlow Risk Assessment
Used when patients are admitted to assess risk

Scores include
- Sex
- Age
- Weight
- Mobility
- Peripheral blood supply
- Smoking

Question 4

What is the grading?

Answer 4

0- Skin Hyperaemia
1- Skin discolouration and non blanching erythema
2- Partial thickness skin loss or blistering with ulceration not involving SC tissue
3- Full thickness skin loss with damage and necrosis (ulcer) down to SC fate
4- Full thickness skin loss down to bone, joint or tendon

Question 5

What is the management?

Answer 5

Prevention- continence measures
Incident report

Healing
- pressure distribution
- good nutrition
- wound management
–hydrocolloid dressings
– VAC dressings
– Maggot therapy/surgery