pressure ulcer

Pressure ulcer

Also known as a decubitus ulcer, pressure ulcers are open wounds that form whenever prolonged pressure is applied to skin covering bony outcrops of the body. Patients who are bedridden are at risk of developing pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers are commonly known as bedsores.

Mentioned in: Debridement

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pressure ulcer,

an inflammation, sore, or ulcer in the skin over a bony prominence, most frequently on the sacrum, elbows, heels, outer ankles, inner knees, hips, shoulder blades, and occipital bone of high-risk patients, especially those who are obese, elderly, or suffering from chronic diseases, infections, injuries, or a poor nutritional state. It results from ischemic hypoxia of the tissues caused by prolonged pressure on them. Pressure ulcers are most often seen in aged, debilitated, immobilized, or cachectic patients. The sores are graded by stages of severity. Prevention of pressure ulcers is a cardinal aspect of nursing care. Treatment specific to the location and the extent of the condition is planned. Also called bedsore, decubitus ulcer, pressure necrosis, pressure sore.

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pressure ulcer

Bedsore A decubitus ulcer on dependent sites, usually lumbosacral, but also on heels, knees, or vertebrae, which is most common in the bed-ridden elderly, seen in up to¹⁄₄ of nursing home residents, and associated with an ↑ mortality Risk factors Nonblanchable erythema, lymphopenia, immobility, dry skin, ↓ body weight, activity limited to bed or chair Management A 'cocktail' of recombinant PDGF, proteases, cell-adhesion molecules may induce healing of recalcitrant PUs

Pressure ulcer

Stage I Nonresolving erythema with no break in skin

Stage II Erythema with superficial disruption of skin, abrasions, vesiculation

Stage III Full-thickness loss of skin with serosanguineous drainage

Stage IV Full-thickness loss of skin and invasion of deeper tissue

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Patient discussion about pressure ulcer.

Q. I ask a client's Dr. to script flexaril for a lower back spasm and he made it for a drug called zanaflex? I am unfamiliar with zanaflex, what is the difference between it and flexaril 25mg? Benefits? Risks? I got him to order the air mattress and extended bed because client is 6'3" and is already bedridden on my 1st day..try to beat the skin breakdown, already stage I decubitis ulcers. I tried to talk the client into slideboard and lift away arm wheelchair...noway..he wants to walk bent with a rolling walker. He already had a lift chair delivered, so he just goes from bed to lift chair. He refuses to let me bathe him. He can't see, and he has me check his draw up on insulin to make sure it's right. He sends the P.T. man right back out the door after he signs the sheet. Difficult pt.!

A. Flexeril and Zanaflex are different drugs but are both muscle relaxants. There are hardly any differences between the two, clinically wise. If the doctor thought one is better than the other for your client I would suggest you take his advice and use the one he gave you.