BED SORE

Bed sore What is a bed sore and how is it contracted? A bed sore, also called a pressure sore, decubitus ulcer or skin ulcer, is a pressure induced ulceration suffered by persons who are confined to their bed for long periods of time. When an illness forces a person to be bed ridden for days, weeks and sometimes even months, the skin becomes very fragile and thin, especially in older people. When the skin becomes so paper thin and fragile, the entire area where the person touches the sheets of the bed, from the weight of the body itself, can cause the skin to rupture and cause an open bed sore.

How can a bed sore be prevented?

When a person is confined to their bed for a longer period of time , they need careful attention and care either by family members who have been instructed by a nurse or doctor on how to take care of the patient's needs. The caretaker needs to carefully obverse and be aware of the potential forming of bed sores and take immediate action, if they do occur. It is crucial to keep turning the patient every couple of hours, to help prevent pressure sores from occurring.

1. Turn and reposition the bedridden person at least once every two hours. Prolonged pressure   to the skin causes bedsores. Place a pillow between his knees when his legs are pressed together.

2. Inspect the parts of the body where bedsores are most apt to occur: the heels, sacrum, knees, ears, shoulders and hips. Any sign of redness should be cause for concern. Keep weight off of any reddened spots, until all signs of redness are gone.

3. Keep the head of the person's bed flat, as much as possible. Raising the head causes the body to slump down deeper into the bed, which increases shearing force on the skin.

4. Use pressure-reducing aids in a bed or wheelchair. Mattresses and seat cushions containing sheepskin, foam, gel or air reduce pressure on the skin.

5. Clean skin as soon as it becomes moist from perspiration, excrement or wound drainage. Dampness that is allowed to linger on the skin increases the chance of breakdown.

6. Change sheets frequently. Choose sheets that are wrinkle-free and softened.

7. Massage the skin two to three times a day to increase circulation. Apply lotion liberally (Dermawound from Progressive Doctors Used in Wound Treatment Facilities Around the World | 6 oz). Avoid massaging bony prominences.

8. Maintain adequate hydration. For optimal skin health, the body needs at least eight glasses of water a day.

How to manage Bedsores

1. Clean the bedsores and the skin with antibacterial cleanser. This is imperative to preventing serious infections from developing in the open wound.

2. Give the patient the required vitamins and minerals, which improve hydration and energy levels. Malnutrition contributes to the body not being able to fight against bedsores.

3. Inspect the skin and existing lesions to be sure there are no new bedsores, and that the existing sores are not deteriorating further.

4. Use padded materials such as foam, fiber or gels to relieve the pressure on the areas where bedsores are most probable or need to heal.

Tips 

1. For a person on prolonged bed rest, consider renting a special rotation-type bed, such as the Roto Rest bed. This bed automatically turns and repositions the occupant, and it is loaded with pressure-reducing devices.

2. Keep a written turn schedule at the bedside. Every two hours, when you turn your patient, mark down whether you left him positioned on his back, right side or left side.

3. Stage-one bedsores can often heal themselves without intervention so long as the pressure is relieved from the area regularly. Once bedsores blister and open, seek proper medical attention to develop the proper course of treatment.

Warnings

1. Any sign of redness should be considered a potential bedsore.

2. Don't massage reddened areas. This encourages further breakdown.

3. Never use a doughnut-cushion under the buttocks, because it decreases blood flow where the cushion sets against the skin.

4. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.