Why is it common for nursing home and hospital patients to develop bed sores on their back?

Few medical conditions graphically illustrate neglect, the way that bed sores do. Particularly in patients who develop bed sores on their back, many of these cases represent a medical facilities failure to provide the common sense medical care such as re-positioning patients in bed.

Keeping patients in one position for long periods of time is part of the problem. Bed sores are prone to develop in any area of the body where pressure develops as a result of the bodies contact with surfaces or objects. Because many nursing home and hospital patients have limited mobility and may spend a good deal of time in bed, pressure may build, and go unrelieved– in many different areas of the back.

Patients who are malnourished or frail are at particular risk for developing bed sores (also called: decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores) because there is less cushion provided by muscle and fat to dispense of the pressure put on the body. Bony areas of the back such as the: shoulder blades, spine, head and sacrum are the most common areas of the back where bed sores area prone to develop.

Medical facilities should take note of their patients who are at higher risk for developing bed sores and implement preventative techniques such as: turning, off-loading and the use of medical equipment such as pressure relieving mattresses.