CONTINUE ON PRESSURE ULCER.WHAT IS IT AND WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF PRESSURE ULCER?.

Pressure ulcers are serious problems that affect over 9% of hospitalized patients.And over 23% of Nursing home patients. Pressure ulcers will result in:

Pain.

Disfigurement.

Prolonged hospitalization.

Pressure ulcer is defined as:

Any lesion caused by unrelieved Pressure resulting in damage of underlying tissue located over a bony prominence  and are  graded  or staged  to classify the degree  of  tissue damage.

Stages of Pressure Ulcer.

Stage 1.

Nonblanchable erytherma of intact skin ,the heralding lesion of the skin ulceration. In individual with darker skin, discoloration  of the skin,warmth, edema,induration or hardness  may also be indicators.

Stage 11.

Partial thickness skin loss involving the epidermis, dermis or both.The ulcer is superficial and presents clinically as abrasion, blister or shallow crater.

Stage 111.

Full thickness  skin loss involving damage  to or necrosis  of subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to but not through underlying fascia.The ulcers present  as deep  crater with or without  undermining of adjacent tissue.

Stage  IV.

Full thickness skin loss with extensive destruction,tissue necrosis or damage muscle, bone or supporting structures (examples tendon, joint capsule)Undermining  and sinus tracts also may be associated  with stage 1V Pressure  ulcers.

Assessment of the pressure ulcers.

Assess for location, stage (Length, width and  depth  L× W× D),Size,Sinus tracts, Undermining, tunneling, Exudate, necrotic tissues. Pressure  ulcer or absent  of  granulating  tissues  and Epithelization.

Reassess pressure ulcer atleast every week. If condition deteriorates re-evaluate  treatment plan .Monitor progress of the wound. A CLEAN PRESSURE  ULCER  WITH  ADEQUATE  INTERVENTION  AND BLOOD  SUPPLY WILL  SHOW  EVIDENCE  OF SOME HEALING  WITHIN  2 – 4 WEEKS.