Bedsores



Definition

Bedsores, also called decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers, or pressure sores, begin as tender, inflamed patches that develop when a person's weight rests against a hard surface, exerting pressure on the skin and soft tissue over bony parts of the body. For example, skin covering a weight-bearing part of the body, such as a knee or hip, is pressed between a bone and a bed, chair, another body part, splint, or other hard object. This is most likely to happen when the person is confined to a bed or wheelchair for long periods of time and is relatively immobile. Usually, mobile individuals, when either conscious or unconscious, will receive nerve signals from the compressed part of the body and will automatically move to relieve the pressure. Pressure sores do not usually develop in people with normal mobility and mental alertness. However, people compromised through acute illness, heavy sedation, unconsciousness, or diminished mental functioning, may not receive signals to move, and as a result of the constant pressure, tissue damage may progress to bedsores in these individuals.


Demographics

Each year, about one million people in the United States develop bedsores at a treatment cost of $1 billion. Pressure sores are most often found in elderly patients; records show that two thirds of all bedsores occur in people over age 70. People who are neurologically impaired, such as those with spinal injuries or paralysis, are also at high risk. Pressure sores have been noted as a direct cause of death in about 8% of paraplegics.

In 1992, the Federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research reported that bedsores afflict:

Description

Bedsores range from mild inflammation to ulceration (breakdown of tissue) and deep wounds that involve muscle and bone. This painful condition usually starts with shiny red skin that quickly blisters and deteriorates into open sores. These sores become a target for bacterial contamination and will often harbor life-threatening infection. Bedsores are not contagious or cancerous, although the most serious complication of chronic bedsores is the development of malignant degeneration, which is a type of cancer.

Bedsores develop as a result of pressure that cuts off the flow of blood and oxygen to tissue. Constant pressure pinches off capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin. If the skin is deprived of essential oxygen and nutrients (a condition known as ischemia) for even as little as an hour, tissue cells can die (anoxia) and bedsores can form. Even the slightest rubbing, called shear, or friction between a hard surface and skin stretched over bones, can cause minor pressure ulcers. They can also develop when a patient stretches or bends blood vessels by slipping into a different position in a bed or chair.

Since urine, feces, or other moisture increases the risk of skin infection, people who suffer from incontinence, as well as immobility, have a greater than average risk of developing bedsores.

Unfortunately, people who have been successfully treated for bedsores have a 90% chance of developing them again. While the pressure sores themselves can usually be cured, about 60,000 deaths per year are attributed to complications caused by bedsores. They can be slow to heal, particularly when the patient's overall status may be weakened. Without proper treatment, bedsores can lead to:

Bedsores are most apt to develop on bony parts of the body, including:

Although impaired mobility is a leading factor in the development of pressure sores, the risk is also increased by illnesses and conditions that weaken muscle and soft tissue, or that affect blood circulation and the delivery of oxygen to body tissue, leaving skin thinner and more vulnerable to breakdown and subsequent infection. These conditions include:

Diagnosis/Preparation

Physical examination , medical history, and patient and caregiver observations are the basis of diagnosis. Special attention must be paid to physical or mental problems, such as an underlying disease, incontinence, or confusion that could complicate a patient's recovery. Nutritional status and smoking history should also be noted.

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) recommends classification of bedsores in four stages of ulceration based primarily on the depth of a sore at the time of examination. This helps standardize the language and encourages effective communication of medical personnel caring for patients with bedsores. The NPUAP advises that not all bedsores follow the stages directly from I to IV. The four most widely accepted stages are described as:

In addition to observing the depth of the wound, the presence or absence of wound drainage and foul odors, or any debris in the wound, such as pieces of dead skin tissue or other material, should also be noted. Any condition that could likely contaminate the wound and cause infection, such as the presence of urine or feces from incontinence, should be noted as well.

A doctor should be notified whenever a person:

Immediate medical attention is required whenever:

Prompt medical attention can prevent surface pressure sores from deepening into more serious infections. The first step is always to reduce or eliminate the pressure that is causing bedsores. For minor bedsores, stages I and II, treatment involves relieving pressure, keeping the wound clean and moist, and keeping the area around the ulcer clean and dry. This is often accomplished with saline washes and the use of sterile medicated gauze dressings that both absorb the wound drainage and fight infection-causing bacteria. Antiseptics , harsh soaps, and other skin cleansers can damage new tissue and should be avoided. Only saline solution should be used to cleanse bedsores whenever fresh non-stick dressings are applied.

The patient's doctor may prescribe infection-fighting antibiotics , special dressings or drying agents, and/or lotions or ointments to be applied to the wound in a thin film three or four times a day. Warm whirlpool treatments are sometimes recommended for sores on the arm, hand, foot, or leg.

Typically, with the removal or reduction of pressure in conjunction with proper treatment and attention to the patient's general health, including good nutrition, bedsores should begin to heal two to four weeks after treatment begins.

Surgical options are often considered for non-healing wounds. When deep wounds are not responding well to standard medical procedures, consultation with a plastic surgeon may be needed to determine if reconstructive surgery is the best possible treatment. In a procedure called debriding, a scalpel may be used to remove dead tissue or other debris from Stage III and IV wounds. A surgical procedure called urinary (or fecal) diversion may also be used with incontinent patients to divert the flow of urinary or fecal material—this keeps the wound clean and encourages wound healing. Reconstruction involves the complete removal of the ulcerated area and surrounding damaged tissue (excision), debriding the bone, and reducing the amount of bacteria in the area with vigorous flushing (lavage) with saline solution. The surgical wound is then drained for a period of days until it is clear that no infection is present and that healing has begun. Plastic surgery may follow to close the wound with a flap (skin from another part of the body), providing a new tissue surface over the bone. For surgery to succeed, infection must not be present. Complications can occur after reconstructive surgery; these include bleeding under the skin (hematoma), wound infection, and the recurrence of pressure sores. Infection in deep wounds can progress to life-threatening systemic infection. Amputation may be required when a wound will not heal or when reconstructive surgery is not an option for a particular patient.


Alternatives

Zinc and vitamins A, C, E, and B complex provide necessary nutrients for the skin and help it to repair injuries and stay healthy. Large doses of vitamins or minerals should not be used without a doctor's approval.

A poultice made of equal parts of powdered slippery elm ( Ulmus fulva ), marsh mallow ( Althaea officinalis ), and echinacea blended with a small amount of hot water can relieve minor inflammation. An infection-fighting rinse of two drops of essential tea tree oil (Melaleuca) to every 8 oz (0.23 g) of water can also be administered. An herbal tea made from calendula ( Calendula officinalis ) is also an effective antiseptic and wound healing agent. Calendula cream can also be used.

Contrasting hot and cold compresses applied to the bedsore site can increase circulation to the area and help flush out waste products, speeding the healing process. The temperatures should be extreme (very hot and ice cold), yet tolerable to the skin. Hot compresses should be applied for three minutes, followed by 30 seconds of cold compress application, repeating the cycle three times. The cycle should always end with a cold compress.


Prevention

It is usually possible to prevent bedsores from developing or worsening. In 1989, the NPUAP set a goal that pressure sores be reduced by 50% by 2000. Because of the varying ways in which the number of cases were recorded during this timeframe, the NPUAP is finding it difficult to analyze accurate incident accounts. However even with the diversity of recording methods and the difficulties in comparing data, small group data indicates that progress has been made with the standardization of guidelines and care.

All patients recovering from illness or surgery or confined to a bed or wheelchair long-term should be inspected regularly; they should be bathed or should shower every day using warm water and mild soap; and patients should avoid cold or dry air. Bedridden patients who are either mentally unaware or physically unable to turn themselves, must be repositioned regularly by caregivers at least once every two hours while awake. People who use a wheelchair should be encouraged to shift their weight every 10 or 15 minutes, or be repositioned by caregivers at least once an hour. It is important to lift, rather than to drag, a person being repositioned. Bony parts of the body should not be massaged. Even slight friction can remove the weakened top layer of skin and damage blood vessels beneath it.

If the patient is bedridden, sensitive body parts can be protected by:

Pillows or foam wedges can prevent a bedridden patient's ankles from irritating each other, and pillows placed under the legs from mid-calf to ankle can raise the heels off the bed. Raising the head of the bed slightly and briefly can provide relief, but raising the head of the bed more than 30 degrees can cause the patient to slide, thereby causing damage to skin and tiny blood vessels.

A person who uses a wheelchair should be encouraged to sit up as straight as possible. Pillows behind the head and between the legs can help prevent bedsores, as can a special cushion placed on the chair seat. Donutshaped cushions should not be used because they restrict blood flow and cause tissues to swell.

Special support surfaces are manufactured and readily available for care in medical facilities or at home, including: air-filled mattresses and cushions, low-air loss beds, and air-fluidized beds. These devices give adequate support while reducing pressure on vulnerable skin. They have been shown to exert less pressure on the skin of compromised patients than do regular mattresses. Patients using these devices and beds must still be repositioned every two hours.


Resources

organizations

International Association of Enterstomal Therapy. 27241 La Paz Road, Suite 121, Laguna Niguel, CA 92656. (714) 476-0268.

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. 12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 130, Reston, VA 20190. (703) 464-4849. http://www.npuap.org .


other

"Bed Sores." American Health and Herbs Ministry. March 15, 1998 [cited April 9, 2003]. http://www.healthherbs.com .
"Pressure Ulcers." American Medical Association. January 8, 2003 [cited April 9, 2003]. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus . "Preventing Bedsores." Mayo Clinic. June 5, 2001 [cited February 20, 2003]. http://www.mayoclinic.com .

"Preventing Pressure Ulcers." Atlanta Health Pages Library. [cited April 9, 2003]. http://www.healthpages.org/AHP/LIBRARY/HLTHTOP/MISC/bedsore.htm .


Maureen Haggerty

L. Lee Culvert



User Contributions:

1
adnan
i am msc student my topic about bed sore pren=vention please help me
Thanks
2
Glenda Walker
I just wanted to do some research for my mom who developed bed sores after a hip arthroplasty. She has poor nutrition and was not taken care of properly by the physician.

She is supposed to go in and have the hip totally replaced but now since she has the sore she is unable to do that. We are waiting for it to heal and actually I am quite concerned about all this.
3
nancy
would like to know why they clean it out after it looks like it is healing ok...
4
Tulsidas Sanghani
Greetings sir, My wife she is Alzhimer in advance stage,55 yrs old,Now she is suffring from bedsore in backside upperside of hip.Area with little fat over bony prominences are common sites of bedsores, Kindly fvr me sir what are the protection i take for her bed sore.

with regards
5
mandie
I dont really have a comment, but a question. My dad has had a spinal cord injury and confined to a wheelchair for approximately 17 years give or take. As you can imagine he has dealt with many pressure sores over the years and has had several surgeries due to this. He just recently had another surgery to treat yet another sore and this time the doctor has said that this would be his last surgery because surgery would no longer be an option to help him anymore. I was just wondering, when surgery is no longer an option for someone in this condition what other measures can be taken to help heal one if one were to reoccur or any ways to help prevent these sore besides all the things he already does like any special vitamins or other treatments, high tech cushions for his wheelchair? Any suggestions or help you may have or can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You, Mandie
6
amy
my husband has been in the hospital a little over 3 mos.and developed just recently a bedsore on both ass cheeks so bad it is down to the bone. i feel the hospital is neglecting him. someone please give me insight either way right or wrong thank you.
7
amy
my husband has been in the hospital a little over 3 mos.and developed just recently a bedsore on both ass cheeks so bad it is down to the bone. i feel the hospital is neglecting him. someone please give me insight either way right or wrong thank you.
8
TLM
I have not tried it myself, but I have heard that Emu oil helps in the treatment of bed sores.
9
Dr ahmed
Dear sir, can you tell me how frequency we have to do cultures for bed sores discharge?? many thanks
10
A PATEL
I wd like to know which type of wheelchairs wd be suitable for a 74year old lady who is suffering from grade 4 bedsore on her backside.Also can we get it on nhs?
11
Arshad Mehmood
My close relative has bed sores and it is very useful and important basic information for me that I can basie treatment and know about it dissease.
12
Linda Shires
My husband is facing surgery to correct a stage 4 compression ulcer that is now healed. I need to know which surgery is best. The pressure ulcer is located at the base of his spine just above the coccyx.
13
Pauline Hoggard
Hi, I would really like a little more information on bedscores: my Dad went into hospital with a serious infection to a score on his foot plus a chest infection. his sore on his foot had turned into an ulcer and poisoned his blood, he consequently died in hospital of pneumonia, are the two connected and he was in a care home and a district nurse comint to see him and I just want to know if they were looking after him properly that it should have got that far. I know that this is alot of questions but I cannot get any answers. many thanks
14
TINA
iWAS READING ON THE QUESTION YOU LEFT ABOUT YOUR DAD AND IM INTERESTED IN THE ANSWERS YOU RECIEVED I WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING WITH MY DAD
15
Gabi
Linda, my husband will go into surgery tomorrow morning for a bedsore. His is also on his coccyx. Of two surgical options, our plastic surgeon chose the less complex. (Sorry, I don't know the medical name for either of them.)

As he explained it, the "gold standard", (his words), in surgery for repairing bedsores involves moving adjacent muscle to compensate for the lost skin etc., and closing up the wound. For a successful outcome the patient must be strong, nutritionally healthy and in particular have a good level of protein. After 5 months in hospital fighting 3 post surgery hospital acquired infections - (C-Diff, MRSA and VRE) - my husband is none of the above.

The surgeon has chosen instead to do what sounds a little like debriding but more thorough. It apparently involves scraping dead tissue, washing well and the emplacement of a manually emptied draining tube in the wound. (I hope this way of draining works well. I know that the very expensive Wound Vac we had been renting was useless.) Our surgeon specializes in these wounds and says the overall success rate for this type of surgery and treatment is about 70%, healing time about 3-4 weeks.
what can you put under a bed ridden patients butt to relive the pressure and soreness in a laying down position
I too want to find out the answer to Pauline's question - my mother died in February of an infection and I think it was because of the ulcer she got after being in the hospital 1 week
I need to find out if this is negligence - you would think the best care would be in ICU where this started - please someone help put my mind at ease thank you
my 83 yr old father has a stage 4 bedsore with a wound vac. he has lost 10 lbs. i know these can be fatal-what would be the progression of this:
Hi my 75 year old mother has grade 4 bedsores, she is losing weight rapidly and diabetic . what is the best dressing and treatment for her.
I have heard that Dermawound is great and that healing starts in 12 hours
21
doris
I have heard that Dermawound is great and that healing starts in 12 hours and my sister-in-law told me she used to work in a nursing home and that they used barasol like the shave cream and that it worked real good in healing bedsores my husband is also in a health care fac.and he also dev.a bed sores and he still has it on his spine he's been in the health care place sence july 2 2010,he was put there becaues he broke his hip and they let him stay in a wheel chair all the timee he went in for rehab.but the Dr. wouldn't let them get him up to walk.so why the rebab now his leg is getting stiff and he can barely move it and he has lost alot of weight.and if this dermawound is so good why doesn't the hosp. and dr. use it unless it cost to much and the ins. won't pay for it.
I am taking care of my 85 year old grandmother which now has a stage 4 sore I have gone through all the steps to take care of her sore our hospice care givers have given up because it is not getting any better
I am getting ready to start the Dermawound product it was a $119 for 3 jars I don't think that is to much if it works I will try and keep you informed if it works
I have received my shipment of dermawound 3 nice size jars very weired texture but we will see how it goes tonight the wound has a bad smell and is very deep we will see in the morning how it goes I will keep you posted
well 12 hours later the smell is gone but this sore is very deep I am sure it will take a little longer to be able to tell the difference
Hospice comes tomorrow we will see what they have to say they don't see it every day
I am now fighting pressure points on both hips
I feel like I am fighting a losing battle
my grand mother never recovered and passed on 11/2
she will rest in peace
My mother in law just had the cleaning procedure and is scheduled for the flap procedure. She's almost 80, overweight, has heart and breathing problems (which is why she developed the bed sores, after a stint at a pulminary rehab), has diabetes, and is incontinent. The bed sore is on her buttocks. I'm wondering if this flap procedure is the correct step to take. She is being told she will have to lie on her side for 6 weeks. She usually sleeps sitting up in a chair because of her breathing (she's done this for years. She only lays down in a bed for an hour or two at most and has lived this way for at least 15 years), and I don't see how she can survive lying on her side recuperating for 6 weeks. Are there any other options? Immediate responses are greatly appreciated!
my son is a quad and has developed a bedsore on his butt by his crack. He has had a wound pump on for several weeks but had an mri last week and found out that the infection went into to the bone. could someone please provide me with some info regarding the what the out come may be
Hello all
i am 33 old male that broke my back t7 t8 in 94 i gt a bedsore in late 2008 and did the antibodies the vac eating HIGH Protien everyday Meat fish Shakes everything and the vac pump and am very active fact that im incomplet para i hurt like CRAZY i have 2 kids 7yoBoy 9yogirl and with limited help i get up and drag my but every where and last year in late nov i now am the owner of another bedsore my infection had also moved in the bone ive chatted with someone lately and says i need to have dead bone cleaned out and a musle pull and skin graph this i dont know anything about and in some cases are told i wont get better but i have too . . . please anybody that knows enough about this plz reply. . . . ps/ do doctors read this ?
Hi, My mom just had an operation today at her back. She suffering a backsores/ulcers because she is a diabetec. She is 79 years old and the operation mainly focusing taking off all the pus from the ulcer. My question, can u pls let me know the best medicine or dressing where can protect the ulcer from infection and I am not sure what medicine or something that can build or produce a new tissue or cell at the hole. The PUS has been taken and I want to buy something to make the tissue to be develop and the hole can be heal with the new tissue or cell. Pls help.

many thanks,
Lena Bowen
30
homehealth4you
I had a patient with stage 4 pressure ulcer on her right hip. It has a tunneling of 3 cm. We clean the wound with normal saline solution then pat it dry, then we packe the hole with sterile kerilix gauze moistened a bit with di.dak.solution (prescribed by her doctor.) We try to avoid getting the surrounding skin wet with the solution. We then cover the wound with a dry sterile gauze and secure with tape. We do this routine twice a day. Her doctor has also prescribed oral antibiotics to prevent infection. We have been doing this for a month now and she wound is looking better. Aside from this routine, it is important that we turn her to sides at least every 2 hours and make sure we don't put pressure on her wound site. We also keep her dry by checking her diapers regularly. She is diabetic so we are also cautious with her diet. And we remain compliant with her diabetic treatment regimen (checking blood sugar daily and taking medicines as ordered by her doctor.)
I have a ulcer on outer ankle bone for several months. I am home bound and have health care nurse coming out 1x a wk to change dressing for about 2 months and worried because it is larger and deeper & hurts much worse. Was wondering if could be because she uses different types of dressings or too many debridement dressings Iv'e been trying to learn as much as possible. nurse also leaves the dressings at my home (opened) is that alright since not sterile anymore? I also have rheumatoid and muscle weakness, fibromyalgia. I am 56 and trying to heal so i can get needed joint replacements. Thank you so much for any help.
32
rashmi
hi my grandma is nearing 74 years.she has weight of more than 90 kg.she cant able to move from her bed,and she is ideal 3 to 4 years.she has thyroid,sugar,bp and she takes medecine for it..she usualy sleeps on right side where she never turn straight or turn left.she got her bed sore of all over her right side of her body.as she cant able to get up,she goes her motion on the cot itself,so her urine spreads all over her body including her head..am very much scare of her..we admitted her in hospital,she is not agreed to use bed pane..can u please advice me what shal i do..??? is there is any chance of death due to this..??? please advice me..i need my grandma..
For 25 years I have developed products to prevent pressure sore problems for the United States military and others. A physically fit airman, confined in an aircraft seat for long periods of time, as long a 72 hours, has the same pressure sore problems as any person, old or young. The underlying insult is the same in all cases. Local tissue is being deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen. In the last three years I have developed a number of simple devices to create the conditions conducive to self healing or prevention. Our Beta site test hospital has completely eliminated bed sores over a three year period. I found a soldier in a military hospital who was scheduled to have his leg amputated in seven days, not from a combat wound but from a pressure ulcer on his calf. I applied a counter pressure dressing (patented) and he was in the gym working out in seven weeks, no amputation. There are many others. I have the pictures, the letters from both patients and caregivers but no enthusiasm from the care giving organizations to pay for the devices for various reasons that aren't important. You or your family members would have to pay for the device. I can't guarantee the outcome but I will guarantee your satisfaction or you get the money back. This is the same guarantee I've extended to millions of customers around the world for our human interface products used in aviation. Look me up. oregonaero.com
34
Peggy Garrett
my mother who is 70 yrs old had a bypass surgery 3 weeks ago and ended up with a pressure sore while in ICU, she came out of surgery with a bypass balloon pump and had to be still, but ended up with a pressure sore, the surgeon ordered an air bed but it took the hospital 7 days to actually get her set up with it, She has since been transferred to a smaller hospital for wound care but the sore is considered a stage III and possibly turning into a stage IV, it has been debrided twice already, and on the wound vac, but she seems to be getting worse, she is not wanting to eat and says she wants to die, and very confused and sleeps all the time. She has diabetes and COPD, what is the chances of her pulling thru this terrible ordeal?
35
Safia
My father has pressure sore on the side of the foot I don't know what stage it is but he has a nurse 3 times a week that comes and changes the dressing what I'm worried about is the bottom part of the foot skin is peeling and the foot at the top has very heavy swelling anyone recommend how to reduce his swelling dads the most patient loving man on this earth and I really want to help him spec as we just lost my mum in August through cancer
36
Wynn Davis
My son 47 year old son is battling a bed sore on his bottom. The sore is about the size of a quarter and not deep, he seems to think that air therpy (leaving it uncovered with fan blowing on it) will help to dry it out and heal. I am not sure this is good? I do clean and dress it twice daily and cover it when he gets up etc.. He never lays on it uncovered. Which is best, to keep it covered and dressed or to let it air out?
MY WIFE HAS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SHE IS 58 YO,LASST YEAR SHE WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH AN ACUTE URINARY TRACT INFECTION AND ALMOST DIED,WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME AFTER ALMOST TWO WEEKS IN THE ACUTE WARD SHE HAD 4 HOLES IN HER BOTTOM 2 BELOW HER BUTTOCKS AND 2 ABOVE EITHER SIDE ,ONE HOLE WAS SO BAD IT WAS ALMOST DOWN TO THE BONE 3 FINGERS LONG SHE HAD TO HAVE MORPHINE BEFORE THE NURSES COULD PACK THE WOUND.
IT HAS BEEN 18 MONTHS NOW AND THE WOUNDS HAVE CLOSED,ONE STILL FEELS A BIT AS THOUGH ITS A BIT HOLLOW UNDERNEATH,BUT THE NURSES SAY ITS OKAY BUT HAS TO BE COVERED WHEN WE GO OUT FOR A SHORT TIME IN THE WHEELCHAIR,SHE DRINKS AND EATS WELL AND HAS PUT ON WEIGHT,I DO ALL THE USUAL THINGS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH SOMEONE IS CONFINED TO BED,MY QUESTION IS,IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN PUT ON HER BUTTOCKS TO HELP TO KEEP THE SKIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
Hello, i lost my father to bed sores that lead to blood poisoning and death.He had gotten his legs amputated, and became immobilized and placed in PENNSYLVANIA nursing home,because i lived in ny, in college, staying a 1 bedroom loft at the time. Because of my father's death, i have became a major mentally depressed female. My father was in the nursing home and they didn't take care of him right. My father complained and i complained about his bed sores, which i never seen.The nursing home killed my father and now i'm an abandoned, lost,and mentally depressed.And i want him back. Love ones can't be replaced, and in my case, good father aren't replaced. So i move forward in life with God and my children as my motivators to deal with my deep deep sadness. I would love to sue and close that place down, where they aren't allow to neglect anyone else's parents or love ones. Do anyone know a lawyer that could help me and my 2 sibling get justice for our father's neglectful murder. The nursing home was well aware of his condition. This is so unfair, that i'm without my father on the count of a deadly case of bed sores that turned into, BLOOD POISONING TO SUCH A WONDERFUL MAN! Daddy i'll always miss you, i need help and advice if anyone could advise me!!!
sincerely,
a abandoned daughter, mrs. criss
39
Me
My mother, a dialysis patient, went into cardiac arrest due to skipping scheduled dialysis treatment as advised by the dialysis center, and was given CPR, then hospitalized for 3 months on a ventilator and with a trachea (sp?) and unable to move around on her own, but would have recuperated in rehab if it wasn't for a neglected bedsore which caused an infection spreading to the blood (septicemia) and killing her. The sweetest little lady in the world, THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED TO HER, something so preventable as a bedsore! Don't we pay these hospitals enough, to allow them to get away with such negligence?
40
Dheeraj
hii
my father is 48 years old.he is paralyze last 27 years and he is facing bedsores problem last 22 years.
we have done lots of surgery and we have tried lots of medicines but still he is facing same problem.
I am a student and I am not belong to a very rich family. but I just want to give treatment to my father.
I don't know what I should do.
please guide me what I should do.
please...
what procedures of physical examination are taken for bedsore patients ?
42
chris
To any of you faceing open bedsores for yourself or parents I was a nurse many yrs ago on a TB ward I had a patient come to us from a nurseing home she had TB and a hole at the bottom of her back with yellow pus in it she had been laid flat for god knows how long, she was 83yrs old I looked after her till the hole eventually healed up.

this is how I treated it the hole was 5 inch all way round 2 inch deep don't attempt this unless you wear rubber gloves don't let any water get to it i used cotton wool buds to get as much pus out as I could I did it twice a day over a week every time I got small amounts out put sterile gauze over it taped it up till I got all the pus out.

I got some Bovril and marmite from our stores put it inside the hole packed it with gauze not too much gauze it doesn't stick into the sore put micro tape over it left it on over night it smelt aweful when I went on my day shift did that for nearly a month you could see the hole slowly getting smaller belive me it worked both of the ingredients I used feed the bed sore to make it heal I got it down to half an inch.

useing less and less i had a weeks holiday left instruction's for the nurses to keep up to doing the same through the day went back after my holiday to face a gapping 3 inch hole no one had bothered just covered it with gauze so started again till I got the hole completely healed i kept turning her as she was so frail every hr I was on my shift I couldn't belive how much that poor women had gone through she had deteriated so much before we got her never been out of bed when I was satisfied it had knitted together I sat her in a chair for half an hr for a few days till she got a bit of strength i helped her to take a few steps to walk.
she and her family couldn't belive what I achieved for her and thanked me for all the time I stuck at it for her to this day I still think about her sadly she did pass away after I retiered she lived till she was 95yrs old but I can honestly say she never had another bedsore with her having TB she could only walk in her cubicle she also put a bit of weight on her family came to see me to ask if I wanted to go to her funeral she was a lovely old lady. so if any one as the patence to try this I can assure you it did work and it was something I thought of myself.I do hope some one will try this and let me no if it works for some one you have suffering a really bad bedsore like she did.
I wonder if you might be able to offer me a suggestion:

I am a 64 year old male, in excellent health. In October of 2014 I was in a car crash and in December of 2014 I tripped on a broken sidewalk and smashed my patella.

Since that time I have developed pressure sores. One is addressed, that another one pops up a few weeks later, almost overnight. I am 5'11", 170 pounds, as active as I can be in my current state, don't sit for long periods, etc. Am I doing something wrongs?

Let me know if you have a chance.
44
Diane Brooks
My boyfriend has stage 4 bedsore on his spine and is in constant pain. what can I do to make him feel better???
My father is 86years old, he has been bed reddin for last 3years. he has developed bedcore on both side of hips, back bone, on the foot , shoulder plate & on legs. he is undernutrition, eyes are becomiing whitesh & not able to breath properly.

We are all in the family are so scared & we do not know how treat the same. Please provied the information about home treatment for bedscore.
46
Abdul Moiz
My father is known case of Parkinsons disease and bed bound for 3 years now. Recently while cleaning his back i noted an ulcer about 2 inches deep on his back just above the buttocks. I naturally became worried and cleaned it with normal saline immediately and since continued with epsom salt dressings to reduce edema and inflammation. Would be really thankful if anyone could provide useful advice.
47
Himanshu
My mom is suffering from bed sore because she is on bed from last Dec due to brain surgery.now blood is coming from bed sore?what should we do??
My mother aged 70 Years having bed sore since last five days,
How to treat bed sore.
What medicine should be treated for bed sore.
Any body suggest to treat bed sore and fast recovery.
Giving Ceftriaxone Inj-1gm BID along with Amikacin Sulph-500mg BID since three days.
49
joanne swanwick
I work as a HCA for a spinal injury C4 patient. He has a grade 4 bedsore and is currently being supported in hospital. Turning him completely onto either the R or L side every 2 hours, so there is no pressure on the sore at all. One of the nurses has informed me that the mattress being used allows you to just "tilt" the patient. I dont see how this is possible, ,, the blood doesnt flow if there is no movement, oxygen around the body? surely a full turn is the answer, if anyone can tell me a tilt is just fine then I will look at the care in turning he is receiving. Thanks
50
pragna
My sister is 28yrs old, he has been bed reddin for last 3months. he has developed bedcore on both side of hips, back bone, on the foot , shoulder plate & on legs. her eyes are becoming whitesh & not able to breath properly.

We are all in the family are so scared & we do not know how treat the same. Please provied the information about home treatment for bedscore.
we have tried applying allovera gel everyday and cleaning with scilen water.

kindly give us sum home remedies
51
Sandra Norris
My mother is doctoring a bedspread is she able to take a shower if she dries her sore?
52
vindhya
i prefer you to use Eusol solution for cleaning of bedsores..frequent dressings could help changing the matrices as well @pragna
53
Mark Evju
I am a t12 paraplegic male.i am 50 yrs old and have been paralyzed for 26 of those years.i finally succumbed and got a pressure ulcer on my ischium about 10 yrs ago.this compounded itself over 3yrs into osteomylytis wich resulted in the removal of both of my upper fibia bones along with a lot of my hips as well.this basically caused me to be bed ridden ever since.i have not had any other breakdowns since and I attribute this MAINLY to having an adjustable air wave bed. I feel any patient spending more than 15 mins in a bed Mobil or not should be on one.they are comfortable and I beleive the reason for why I am still alive today.
My daughter is a 44 year old woman who is unable to walk & she suffers from Lupus. She has had a tunneling bedsore on her upper right buttock &* has had it opened up & a wound vac put on it. It healed partially but the doctors want to reopen it again because the op is almost healed but the cavity is not. She has lost a lot of weight due to refusing to eat, but I give her protein shakes & the nurses in the nursing homes are also plying her with protein shakes & as much protein as she will take. The doctors want to complete flap surgery but I'm afraid that she is not a good candidate for this surgery. She doesn' t want the surgery, but neither the wound vici nor keeping the wound cleaned are helping the wound to heal.. What else can we do to help this terrible wound to heal?
55
Shirley Patterson
Chris, please send me your e-mail address. Thanks...
My brother is 62 years old and has been in hospitals/nursing homes since June, 2014. At the first hospital, in one month, he had a Stage IV decubitus ulcer sacrum. No one advised me of this situation until he went to the next Acute Care Hospital. Since then, he had heart surgery, was on life support for almost a week, had to be on dialysis since then, is disabled because his toes on the right foot fell off, his fingers are mangled on one hand, has low vision because he was septic after his retina was attached (another infection). To summarize, he has been through hell and back. When his strength returned after rehab(s), HE WOULD NOT BE ADMITTED IN ASSISTED LIVING facilities and even in most nursing homes. Since 2014, the decubitus ulcer on his back has gotten much smaller and you cannot see the bone. He does not have the severe pain and have been to many plastic surgeons for the flap surgery; because being on dialysis, no one would perform this surgery. Why cannot it be decreased from a Stage IV decubitus ulcer to how much smaller it is now?. Everyone says it will always be a STAGE IV decubitus ulcer until it is TOTALLY closed. I don't know when that will close AND BECAUSE OF THIS, NO ASSISTED LIVING WILL TAKE HIM. I AM TRYING TO FIND NURSING HOMES THAT WILL EVEN ACCEPT HIM WITH HIS OTHER CONDITIONS. Why is your Stage I or II ulcers upgraded to a Stage III or Stage IV . And why if your Stage IV ulcer has downgraded and it is much better, BUT IT IS ALWAYS A STAGE IV ULCER AND NO ONE WILL ACCEPT HIM. HE HAS NO RIGHTS WITH HIS DISABILITIES. i am trying to contact anyone for help. There are organizations for many with disabilities, but there are no organizations for people with STAGE IV decubitus ulcers. WE NEED HELP FOR DIRECTION. Thank you for any assistance and your prayers.
57
Ludumo
Help me with medication to use for level4 bedsores pls pls pls

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