How much do you know about the prevention and care of pressure ulcers?

With the aging of the population, the incidence of pressure sores is on the rise. Pressure sores are also a global health problem. They are common problems for people who are bedridden for a long time, people who sit in wheelchairs for a long time, and the elderly. Once a pressure sore occurs, it not only increases the patient's pain, increases the chance of infection, prolongs hospitalization, increases the burden on the family, but may even threaten life.

Fortunately, most pressure sores are preventable, and even those that have already occurred are mostly curable. Let's learn about pressure sores, improve our understanding of pressure sores, and master the methods of pressure sore prevention and care, so as to reduce the incidence of pressure sores, promote healing, and relieve pain.

What is a pressure sore? Do you know? Pressure sores are caused by long-term pressure on local tissues of the body, which hinders blood circulation, and causes local persistent ischemia, hypoxia, and malnutrition, leading to soft tissue ulceration and necrosis. Pressure sores are also called pressure ulcers.

Stage I (early stage): The skin is intact, and the bony protrusions are red due to pressure. The redness of the skin does not subside 30 minutes after the pressure is removed. In this stage, turning the patient over and reducing the pressure on the pressure area can be used to prevent the further development of the pressure sore.

Stage II: Skin damage or blisters appear. During this stage, you should pay attention to reducing pressure, keeping the skin clean, protecting the wound surface, and preventing infection.

Stage III: The skin is damaged and the fat layer is injured. During this stage, attention should be paid to reducing pressure, protecting the wound surface, changing the dressing regularly, and visiting the hospital regularly.

Stage IV: Skin damage, tissue necrosis or damage to bones, muscles or tendons. Treatment is more difficult at this stage. In addition to strengthening turning over and decompression measures, regular dressing changes and regular visits to the hospital are required.

Special reminder: For deep pressure ulcers, you must go to the hospital as soon as possible to treat the wound. Delay will increase the difficulty of wound treatment and miss the opportunity for treatment.

Which people and which parts of the body are prone to pressure ulcers?
1. Populations susceptible to pressure sores 1. Elderly or obese people

2. People who are thin, malnourished, anemic or diabetic

3. Patients who are unconscious or taking sedatives

4. Patients with paralysis, edema, fever or pain

5. Patients with incontinence

6. Those whose activities are restricted due to medical care measures (such as immobilization, plaster fixation, restraints, surgery, traction, etc.).

2. Common areas: Pressure sores can occur in various parts of the body that are under pressure, most of which occur on bony protrusions such as the hips, buttocks, and feet.

What are the common causes of pressure sores? 1. External factors such as pressure, friction, shear force, moisture, irritation of the local skin by urine and feces, and improper use of various fixed treatments or nursing protection measures.

2. Internal factors: old age, physical weakness, inability to take care of oneself, coma, paralysis, malnutrition, extreme weight loss, protein deficiency leading to skin edema and anemia.

Can pressure sores be prevented? How to prevent them? "Preventing the occurrence of pressure sores" is unanimously recognized as the most economical means of nursing for pressure sores. So how to prevent the occurrence of pressure sores? The prevention of pressure sores mainly lies in eliminating the causes that may cause pressure sores. When caring for patients, we must be "five diligent", that is, frequent turning, frequent scrubbing, frequent massage, frequent tidying, and frequent replacement. 1. The placement and change of body positions Reasonable placement of patients at high risk of pressure sores, assisting patients to change their positions in time, and avoiding long-term pressure on bony protrusions are necessary measures to prevent pressure sores. Generally, turn over once every 2 hours, and use a 30° position pad or pillow for support in the side-lying position. For those who are in critical condition and should not turn over, soft cushions or pressure relief pads should be used every 1-2 hours on their scapula, lumbar sacral, heel and other bony protrusions to reduce the pressure on the pressured parts and avoid dragging, pulling, pushing and other actions. 2. The application of the support surface By increasing the contact surface with the human body, or changing the contact position and duration of the support surface with the body, the pressure on the skin contact surface can be reduced to prevent pressure sores. After the body is positioned securely, you can place soft pillows, sponge pads, etc. in the gap between the body and the bed. You can also use air mattresses, water mattresses, turning pads, pressure-reducing patches, wheelchair cushions, etc. to reduce the pressure on bony protrusions, increase the load-bearing surface, distribute the force evenly, and avoid long-term local pressure.

3. Strengthen skin care

Reduce skin damage by reducing pressure, friction, shear force, and avoiding moisture and excessive dryness of the skin. For example, wash patients with incontinence in time and apply moisturizer after cleaning the skin; keep the bed sheets clean, dry, flat, and wrinkle-free; place the tubes correctly to prevent tube compression; frequently massage the areas prone to pressure sores with a hot and wet towel to promote blood circulation and prevent the occurrence of pressure sores.

4. Improve Nutritional Intake

Patients at high risk of pressure ulcers should be given a high-protein, high-vitamin, high-calorie diet, maintain a healthy and balanced diet and appropriate fluid intake, and ensure adequate nutritional intake.

5. Health education for patients and their families: Guide patients and their families to understand the purpose and methods of pressure ulcer prevention, and guide them in turning over, limb activities and the use of protective equipment.