Is there such a thing as ‘reverse staging’ for healing bed sores?

No. Once a bed sore (also referred to as decubitus ulcer, pressure sore or pressure ulcer) is categorized as a particular stage, it should not be re-categorized to another stage– even it it heals. In other words, despite that fact that stage 4 bed sore may be healing, it should not be re-categorized to a lower stage 3, 2 or 1.

The primary reason for not ‘reverse staging’ bed sores is that despite an outward appearence that a wound may be healing, bed sores simply do not completely heal. An advanced bed sore that appears to be healed, will still be unable to replace lost muscle, fat and skin that were lost due to the original wound. Therefore, reverse staging does not accurately characterize what is physiologically occurring in the bed sore.

Once a bed sore is categorized as a particular stage, it should always remain that stage– regardless of the outward appearance.

Source:

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

Bed Sore
Resource Center

Information and medical contact resources for bed sore education and treatment.

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