Also called: Also called: Bed sores, Decubitus ulcers, Pressure ulcers
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.
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JAMA Patient Page: Pressure Ulcers(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/296/8/1020.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/289/2/254/DC1/1
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Pressure Sores(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/endoflife/039.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/seniors/endoflife/039.printerview.html
- Bedsores (Pressure Sores)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bedsores/DS00570/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Skin (Pressure) Sores(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2_3X_Skin_Pressure_Sores.asp
- Taking Care of Pressure Sores(University of Washington, Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine) - http://sci.washington.edu/info/pamphlets/pressure_sores.asp
- Lower Extremity Ulcers(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/pressure_ulcers/hic_lower_extremity_ulcers.aspx
- Bedsore (Decubitus Ulcer)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/decubitusUlcer.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Pressure Ulcer(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Pressure+Ulcer%22
- Article: The effect of surface electric stimulation of the gluteal muscles... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18760157&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Factors predicting pressure ulcers in veterans with spinal cord injuries. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18716487&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Get pressure ulcers near zero with these best practices. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18712016&tool=MedlinePlus
- Pressure Sores -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=pressure+ulcer[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- pressure ulcer - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=pressure+ulcer
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Pressure Ulcers (Bed Sores)(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging) - http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=30
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Pressure Sores is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/