Pressure ulcers, also sometimes known as bedsores or pressure sores, are a type of injury that affects areas of the skin and underlying tissue. They are caused when the affected area of skin is placed under too much pressure.
Pressure ulcers can range in severity from patches of discoloured skin to open wounds that expose the underlying bone or muscle.
How pressure ulcers develop
Pressure ulcers develop when a large amount of pressure is applied to an area of skin over a short period of time. Or, they can occur when less force is applied but over a longer period of time.
The extra pressure disrupts the flow of blood through the skin. Without a blood supply, the affected area of skin becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients. It begins to break down, leading to the formation of an ulcer.
Healthy people do not get pressure ulcers because they are continuously and subconsciously adjusting their posture and position so that no part of their body is subjected to excessive pressure.
However, people with health conditions that make it difficult for them to move their body often develop pressure ulcers. In addition, conditions that can affect the flow of blood through the body, such as type 2 diabetes, can make a person more vulnerable to pressure ulcers.
See Pressure ulcers - causes for more information about the risk factors that are associated with the condition.
How common are pressure ulcers?
Pressure ulcers are a widespread and often underestimated health problem in the UK and across the world.
It is estimated that just under half a million people in the UK will develop at least one pressure ulcer in any given year. This is usually people with an underlying health condition. For example, around 1 in 20 people who are admitted to hospital with an acute (sudden) illness will develop a pressure ulcer.
People over 70 years old are particularly vulnerable to pressure ulcers due to a combination of factors, such as:
- reduced blood supply
- ageing of the skin
- older people having a higher rate of mobility problems
Two out of every three cases of pressure ulcers develop in people who are 70 years old or more.
Preventing pressure ulcers
Pressure ulcers can be unpleasant, upsetting and challenging to treat. Therefore, healthcare professionals use a range of techniques that are designed to prevent pressure ulcers developing in the first place. These include:
- regularly changing a person’s position
- using equipment, such as specially designed mattresses and cushions, to protect vulnerable parts of the body
See Pressure ulcers - treatment and Pressure ulcers - prevention for more information.
Unfortunately, even with the highest standards of clinical care, it is not always possible to prevent pressure ulcers in particularly vulnerable people.
Outlook
The outlook for someone with pressure ulcers will vary widely among individuals.
For some people, pressure ulcers are a minor inconvenience that require minor nursing care. For others, they are a very serious type of injury that can lead to life-threatening complications, such as blood poisoning or gangrene (a condition where the body’s tissue begins to decay and die).
Treatment for pressure ulcers includes the use of dressings, creams and gels that are designed to speed up the healing process and relieve pressure. For the most serious cases, surgery is sometimes recommended.
