Bedsores – Various Types And Methods Of Treatment

Bedsores and their development will depend on the underlying causes. Today we’re going to tell you what pressure ulcers are , explain the different stages of changes and talk about their treatment.

Pressure ulcers are damage to the skin and underlying tissue due to prolonged pressure or friction against a hard surface. They are common in patients who are bedridden for a long time. In addition, the stages of pressure ulcers are greater in the elderly as these ulcers cause serious problems in this age group.

They are very painful and cause a large number of local and general infections. They are located in the most protruding places of the body, on the sacrum, on the trochanter (bone processes located in the upper limb or epiphysis), heels, shoulder blades and the occipital area.

The severity of pressure ulcers ranges from reddening of the skin to loss of skin, and may expose the underlying bone.

Bedsores and their stages

Healthcare professionals use a grading system to describe the severity and stages of pressure ulcers. Therefore, there are 4 categories:

• Stage 1. A grade 1 pressure ulcer is the most superficial type of injury. The affected area of ​​skin appears discolored and reddish in patients with light skin and bruised or bluish in patients with darker skin. In grade 1 pressure ulcers, the skin remains intact, but it can be painful, itchy, warm, and soft or hard to the touch.
• Stage 2. In the second stage of pressure ulcers, part of the outer surface of the skin, i.e. the epidermis, or the innermost part of the skin – the dermis – is damaged. This causes loss of connective tissue. The ulcer appears as an open wound or bladder.

• Stage 3. In this phase, the entire thickness of the skin is lost. In addition, the underlying tissue is also damaged. However, there is no muscle or bone damage. The pressure ulcer appears as a deep, hollow wound.
• Stage 4. Of the four stages, the pressure ulcer is the most serious. In this situation , the skin is severely damaged and the adjacent tissue necroses, i.e. dies. It may also damage the underlying muscles or bones. Patients with this type of pressure ulcer are at high risk of developing serious infections.

Treatment

Because pressure ulcers are a complex health problem caused by many interrelated factors, a wide variety of specialists have to look after the patient. Some techniques and treatments include:

Change of position

Moving your body and changing positions at regular intervals is one of the best ways to prevent these injuries from happening. This reduces pressure in the case of 1st and 2nd degree pressure ulcers.

Mattresses and pillows

A wide range of special mattresses  and pillows are available to reduce pressure on sensitive parts of the body. Patients with more severe cases of pressure ulcer need a more sophisticated mattress and even a bed system.

There are, for example, mattresses that can be connected to a continuous flow of automatically regulated air to relieve pressure at the required time.

Dressing

Some examples of these types of products are:

• Hydrocolloids : These are dressings containing a special gel that promotes the growth of new skin cells.
• Alginates : These are dressings made of seaweed containing sodium and calcium. Studies have shown that they accelerate the healing process.

Topical preparations

Doctors may also prescribe creams or ointments to speed up the healing process. At the same time, they prevent further damage to the skin. A type of chemical also known as a free radical scavenger can also be useful in preventing cell damage at the genetic level.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are useful in preventing bacterial infections as well as preventing the development of secondary infections.

In the same way, direct application of an antiseptic ointment can also cleanse the pressure ulcer of any bacteria that are already present.

Operation

Sometimes it is not possible to heal pressure ulcers and doctors have to resort to surgery to seal the wound and prevent further tissue damage. The most common technique is transplant. Professionals take a piece of skin and muscle from another part of the body and use them to seal the ulcer.

Bedsores: a complex pathology

As we can see, pressure ulcers are very common, occur easily, and also require complex treatment. In patients with risk factors – mainly bedridden for chronic diseases – multiple anti-scarring measures should be considered to improve the prognosis of these lesions.