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Summary
Pressure sores are areas of damaged skin caused by staying in one position for too long. They commonly form where your bones are close to your skin, such as your ankles, back, elbows, heels and hips. You are at risk if you are bedridden, use a wheelchair, or are unable to change your position. Pressure sores can cause serious infections, some of which are life-threatening. They can be a problem for people in nursing homes.
You can prevent the sores by :
- Keeping skin clean and dry
- Changing position every two hours
- Using pillows and products that relieve pressure
Pressure sores have a variety of treatments. Advanced sores are slow to heal, so early treatment is best.
Treatments and Therapies
- Pressure Sores (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- Taking Care of Pressure Sores (University of Washington, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine)
Images
- Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers) (VisualDX)
Videos and Tutorials
-
Preventing Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)
(Hill Foundation for Families Living with Disabilities)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Pressure Ulcer
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Theoretically informed codesign of a tailored intervention to support pressure ulcer...
- Article: Closed-incision negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in elderly patients following sacral...
- Article: The application effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma combined with negative pressure...
- Pressure Sores -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Find a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse in Your Area (Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society)
-
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- How to care for pressure sores (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Preventing pressure ulcers (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.