Bed Sore FAQ: General Information about Bed Sores | Decubitus Ulcers

Current Category: General Information

How quickly can a bed sore develop in a nursing home or hospital patient?

As with many aspects of medicine, an individuals propensity to develop a medical complication– such as a a bed sore, is dependent on a number of factors that are unique to the individual and the type of medical care they receive. Nonetheless evidence suggests, that individuals who remain in one… read more »

Why are rehab patients at risk for developing bed sores?

Thousands of people enter rehab facilities every year for the purpose of healing an injury or to get short-term medical treatment only to get more than they bargained for– a bed sore. The underlying reasons why rehab patients develop bed sores (also referred to as: pressure sore, pressure ulcer or… read more »

Is there a difference between ‘venous ulcers’ and ‘pressure ulcers’?

Yes. Venous skin ulcers are caused by poor circulation in the legs caused by damaged valves that prevent blood from flowing the wrong way, allowing blood to pool in the legs. Pressure ulcers, on the other hand, are caused by sustained pressure on an area of the body,… read more »

Are all ‘sores’ considered to be ‘bed sores’?

No. Wounds, ulcers and sores can develop from a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions. Patients may develop sores on their body due to a variety of factors including: trauma, poor circulation, and diabetic neuropathy. Sometimes people confuse these ‘other’ types of sores as a bed sore (or pressure… read more »

Are hospital patients prone to develop bed sores?

Patients in hospitals encounter many of the same problems as nursing home patients. Although most commonly associated with nursing homes, patients in hospitals and rehab facilities are particularly susceptible to bed sores because many facilities focus on acute medical conditions and fail to address patients daily living needs. Many hospitals… read more »

What chronic medical conditions make a person susceptable to develop bed sores?

Many people with chronic medical conditions are susceptible to develop bed sores mainly due to the fact their medical condition limits their mobility. Therefore, caregivers must be aware of the increased risk and take steps to encourage activity and re-position the individual as feasible. Studies have shown that people with… read more »

What are the signs of infection for people who have bed sores?

People with advanced bed sores (stage 3 or stage 4) are particularly susceptible to developing infection– both in the wound itself and potentially systematically. In order to minimize risk of infection, care should be taken to keep the wound clean and dry. Dressings should be changed on a regular basis… read more »

Why do bed sores commonly develop on the buttocks?

Although bed sores (also referred to as decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers, or pressure sores) can develop on any part of the body where unrelieved pressure accumulates without relief for a prolonged period of time. The most common area for bed sores to develop is the buttocks or coccyx. The primary… read more »

If a person has contractures, are they at an increased liklihood for developing bed sores?

Contractures are a medical condition where a joint is held in a fixed position due to the shortening of a muscle or tendon due to stress exerted on the muscle or spasticity (uncontrolled muscle movement). Older patients and those with limited mobility are especially prone to develop contractures. Contractures most… read more »

Why are some younger patients prone to develop bed sores?

The reality is that two-thirds of all people with bed sores are older that 75-years-old. Nonetheless, medical professionals in both acute and long-term care settings need to be tuned in to the fact that young people (of all ages) are still at risk to develop bed sores. Young people who… read more »

Can bed sores be fatal?

Yes. The reality is that the prognosis for most patients with bed sores is not good. Although few studies have been conducted regarding the overall mortality of patients with bed sores (also referred to as: decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores), a study of patients with paraplegia determined that… read more »

Is it true that minorities have a higher rate of bed sores compared with the general population?

Yes. A research study concluded by researchers at Brown University concluded nursing homes with a higher Hispanic populations have higher rates of bed sores (also known as: pressure sores, pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers) than facilities with less minorities. The results are detailed in the Journal of the American Medical Association.… read more »

Why do facilities need to ‘off load’ patients?

Off loading is the relief of pressure from a particular area. Off loading usually refers to the removal of pressure for a minimum of one minute from the area. Physicians will dictate the frequency with which residents are to be off loaded the duration. In patients confined to a wheelchair,… read more »

How is ’tissue tolerance’ related to prevention of bed sores?

‘Tissue tolerance’ refers to the ability of the skin and underlying tissue to tolerate exposure to pressure without adverse effects. Tissue tolerance is done by examining the skin and tissue after the pressure has been been applied and relieved. After pressure to the area has been relieved, the following assessment… read more »

Can bed sores lead to amputation of limbs?

Yes. Bed sores (also known as: pressure sores, decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers) are caused by pressure, which cuts off blood flow to parts of the body resulting in areas of injured skin and tissue. The areas of the body most vulnerable to pressure sores are the heels, hips,… read more »

What does a patients albumin level have to do with bed sores?

Albumin is a serum protein produced in the liver that is essential for proper blood circulation and metabolism of compounds in the body. A low albumin level (less that 3.5 g/dl) is indicative of several potential problems including: cirrhosis, malnutrition, or kidney disease. Unlike other chemistry levels, a low albumin… read more »

Has any research been done regarding the prevalence of bed sores in the U.S.?

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed 14,000 nursing home residents across the country. The report concluded bed sores are widespread problem and effect a broad based nursing home demographic–regardless of race, sex, or age. The report,”Pressure Ulcers Among Nursing Home Resident: United States, 2004″ revealed the following: In… read more »

Why are bed sores part of the government’s ‘never event’ list?

Effective October 1, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid will no longer reimburse hospitals for errors deemed to be ‘preventable’ by the agency. The list of preventable medical errors, technically called ‘never events’, includes bed sores. Hospitals are also banned from charging patients directly for care related to medical… read more »

Are bed sores painful?

Yes. Bed sores can be excruciatingly painful due to the fact that they are essentially an open wound in the body and they frequently develop in areas where it is essentially unavoidable to put pressure (such as the back, buttocks or heels). For this reason, even the most mundane everyday… read more »

What do bed sores look like?

You can see video and pictures of bed sores at these websites: Bed Sore Photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nekrose_dekubitus01.jpg http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/pressureUlcerDecubitusUlcer.htm Bed Sore Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLXpY8jgsmE read more »

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