We're sorry, the page you're looking for can't be found. It is possible that you used an outdated or expired MedicineNet link or you may have typed the address incorrectly. Please try searching using the search field above. If you're not sure of the spelling, type the first few letters, followed by an asterisk(*). To help you find what you are looking for, these links may help. Browse our A-Z Lists: MedTerms Online Medical DictionaryBedsores are Easier to Prevent Than to Heal The most important step is to avoid prolonged pressure on any one part of the body. By Clare Absher RN, BSN As a nurse, I have spent a considerable amount of time helping family caregivers deal with the challenge of preventing bedsores. I will pass on some practical tips and care techniques regarding effective bedsore prevention that I have learned through my own and other's experiences. The most important step to prevent pressure sores is to avoid prolonged pressure on any one part of the body.
The pressure can reduce the blood supply to the skin and the tissues under the skin. When a change in position doesn't occur often enough and the blood supply gets too low, a sore may form. The bedsore is a pressure ulcer that most often develops on a bony area of the body which has little fat to pad it and only a thin covering of flesh, such as the "tailbone", heels, elbows, and shoulder blades. Therefore any individual that is immobilized in bed or a wheelchair for extended periods of time, is at high risk for bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. 16 Practical Tips to Prevent Bedsores: 1) Check the entire body every day for spots, color changes or other signs of sores. Pay particular attention to the pressure points over bony parts of the body that don't have much padding. 2) If you notice a discolored area, check for discomfort, warmness and blanching (whitening) of this area by pressing and then releasing as can be a sign of skin breakdown if does not blanche.
3) Keep skin healthy by keeping it clean and dry. Use a mild soap and moisturizers so skin doesn't get too dry. 4) Change wet diapers/clothing often to avoid skin contact with acidic-nature of urine. 5) Reduce friction (rubbing) by lifting rather than dragging. Avoid use of donut shape cushions. 6) Limit raising the head of the bed above 30 degrees, as this can allow the skin to slide over the bed surface causing damage. 7) Avoid massaging skin over vulnerable bony areas. 8) Change body position at least every 2 hours and more frequently in a chair. 9) Place pillows under legs from mid-calf to ankle to keep heels off the bed. Do not place pillows under the knees as it can cut off circulation. 10) Encourage and provide diet with adequate calories, protein, vitamin C and other nutrients, as the body will be less susceptible to skin breakdown. 11) Reinforce adequate hydration by encouraging frequent intake of fluids throughout the day. 12) Control blood sugars levels for those with Diabetes.
13) Avoid laying directly on hip bone when lying on side. Use pillows under side so that weight rests on fleshy part of buttock instead of hip bone. 14) Use pillows to keep knees and ankles apart. When lying on back, place a pillow under lower calves to lift ankles slightly off the bed. 15) When sitting in a chair or wheelchair, sit upright and straight as this position will allow easier movement and shifting to help prevent sores. 16) Use pressure-reducing devices. Egg crate foam mattress pads, gel pads, sheepskin pads, wheelchair cushions, and alternating air mattresses can prevent and minimize the risk of pressure ulcers. Keep in mind that using these devices doesn't eliminate the need to reposition. Clare Absher is a Registered Nurse with over 37 years of experience. Most of her experience is in home health serving as a caregiver, educator, patient advocate, and liaison between families and community resources. She has also worked in acute care, assisted living, and retirement settings.
She is passionate about helping families care for their elderly loved ones at home. How to Make Wound Care Dressings Last LongerPersistent Attention is Key to HealingActa Chir Belg. 2007 Mar-Apr;107(2):155-61.Berthe JV1, Bustillo A, Mélot C, de Fontaine S.Author information1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. jeberthe@ulb.ac.beAbstractBACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are a frequent complication of bed rest. The development of an efficient and low cost pressure relieving system for the prevention of bed-sores would be of considerable hospital health and economic interest. Our study was designed to determine the effectiveness in pressure-sore prevention of an interface pressure-decreasing mattress, the Kliniplot mattress, used in our institution since 1978.METHODS: In a prospective randomised controlled 7-month clinical trial we compared the Kliniplot mattress with our standard hospital mattress in 1729 patients admitted to medical and surgical departments (neurology, cardiology, oncology-haematology, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery and orthopaedic surgery).
Two groups (Klinipot mattress and standard hospital mattress) were monitored for the prevention of pressure sores. The patients were evaluated on a daily basis from their admission until the eventual occurrence of a bed-sore. Patients' characteristics and pressure-sore risk factors were similar at the baseline in both groups. Patients presenting with a pressure sore at the time of admission were excluded.RESULTS: Forty-two of the 1729 patients (2.4%) who entered the study developed at least one pressure sore. Twenty-one of the 657 patients (3.2%) nursed on the Kliniplot mattress, and 21 of the 1072 patients (1.9%) on the standard mattress developed bed-sores (p = 0.154). The median time for the occurrence of pressure sores was 31 days (range 6-87) with the Kliniplot mattress and 18 days (range 2 to 38) with the standard mattress (p < 0.001). The risk categories for developing bed-sores using the modified Ek's scale were no different at the baseline between both groups (p = 0.764). The severity of the pressure sores was no different between both groups (p = 0.918).