Pressure Ulcers

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Pressure Ulcer Treatment Expert pressure ulcer care for all stages—mobile treatment preventing complications in skilled nursing, home care, and hospice patients. What Are Pressure Ulcers? Pressure ulcers (also called bedsores, pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers) are injuries to skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure on skin. They develop when constant pressure reduces blood flow to vulnerable areas, causing tissue death. Over 2.5 million Americans develop pressure ulcers annually, primarily affecting immobile, bedridden, or wheelchair-bound individuals. Pressure ulcers are staged I-IV based on depth and tissue involvement. Most Common Locations • Sacrum/tailbone (most common—30% of cases) • Heels (20% of cases) • Ischial tuberosities (sitting bones) • Hips/trochanters (side-lying position) • Shoulder blades • Back of head (immobile patients) • Elbows, knees, ankles • Any bony prominence under pressure Why Pressure Ulcers Don't Heal Pressure ulcers become chronic wounds due to ongoing pressure combined with multiple risk factors: Continuous Pressure Unrelieved pressure compresses capillaries, blocking oxygen delivery. Tissue dies within 2-6 hours of constant pressure. If patient cannot reposition independently, pressure continues damaging tissue faster than it can heal. Malnutrition & Protein Deficiency Healing requires adequate protein, calories, vitamin C, and zinc. Immobile patients often have poor appetite and inadequate nutrition. Without building blocks, body cannot create new tissue. Moisture & Incontinence Urine and feces create moisture that macerates skin. Bacteria from incontinence cause infection. Moisture + pressure = rapid tissue breakdown. Friction & Shear Forces Sliding down in bed or improper transfers create shear forces that tear tissue layers. Friction during repositioning damages fragile skin. Symptoms and Stages Pressure ulcers are classified by the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel staging system: Stage 1: Non-Blanchable Redness Intact skin with persistent redness that doesn't blanch (turn white) when pressed. May feel warmer or cooler than surrounding skin. Pain or itching possible. 100% reversible with intervention. Stage 2: Partial Thickness Skin Loss Shallow open ulcer with red/pink wound bed. May present as intact or ruptured blister. Epidermis and possibly dermis lost. No slough or eschar present. Stage 3: Full Thickness Skin Loss Full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone/tendon/muscle not exposed. Slough may be present. May include undermining and tunneling. Stage 4: Full Thickness Tissue Loss Full thickness with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. Slough or eschar may be present. Often includes undermining and tunneling. High infection and osteomyelitis risk. Unstageable: Depth Unknown Full thickness tissue loss covered by slough (yellow/tan/gray) or eschar (black/brown) in wound bed. Cannot determine true depth until debris removed via debridement. Risks if Untreated Untreated pressure ulcers rapidly progress to deeper stages. Stage 1 can become Stage 4 within days in high-risk patients. Complications include: cellulitis and sepsis (life-threatening bloodstream infection), osteomyelitis (bone infection requiring months of IV antibiotics), septic arthritis if near joints, chronic pain, extended hospital stays, and mortality—pressure ulcers are associated with 60,000 deaths annually in the US. How Healix360 Treats Pressure Ulcers Our comprehensive approach treats the wound while addressing underlying causes: Pressure Relief & Repositioning Schedule Establish every-2-hour turning schedule. Pressure-relieving mattresses or overlays. Proper positioning with pillows. For wheelchair users, pressure relief lifts every 15-30 minutes. Offloading devices for heels (boots, pillows). Debridement Sharp debridement removes necrotic tissue, slough, and eschar to reveal viable tissue. Converts unstageable wounds to stageable. Reduces infection risk. See…