{"id":35737,"date":"2021-08-06T11:44:59","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T03:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.karmamedical.com\/?p=35737"},"modified":"2023-03-15T14:10:41","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T06:10:41","slug":"what-are-pressure-sores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.karmamedical.com\/2021\/08\/what-are-pressure-sores\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Pressure Sores?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201c<\/span>The presence of pressure ulcers is the third leading cause of death<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span>\u201d for wheelchair users, which is why it is important to know what pressure sores are. It’s also essential to understand who is most prone to pressure sores<\/a><\/span>, how to prevent pressure sores in elderly wheelchair users<\/a><\/span>, and what accessories can help reduce the chance of pressure sores<\/span><\/a>. First, we will start by explaining what exactly a pressure sore is and what causes them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a pressure sore?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A pressure sore or pressure ulcer is skin damage caused to an area of the body because of <\/strong><\/span>staying in one position for too long<\/i><\/strong>. They are most commonly found in areas close to bones like the hips, back, elbows, and ankles. If not quickly treated, the damage to the skin can lead to serious infections that can later become life-threatening. Over time, the damage caused to the skin can lead to<\/span> skin loss, tissue loss, infection, and in extreme cases, necrosis<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What do the different stages of pressure ulcers look like?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t
\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t
\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stage 1<\/b><\/td>\nStage 2<\/b><\/td>\nStage 3<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The skin looks inflamed and may be tender but otherwise, the injury is superficial at this stage. <\/span><\/td>\nThe skin has started to break down and the area may be red and moist as a result of microclimate and shear. <\/span><\/td>\nSkin and tissue loss have occurred with exposed muscle or even bone. At this stage, the patient is prone to infections and permanent tissue damage. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\n