An area of skin that feels cooler/warmer to touch
1st Stage
2nd Stage
3rd Stage
4th Stage
At Cutis,
Bedsores can be treated via conservative treatment. However, severe bedsores need to be repaired surgically. It may be performed via direct closure of wound, via skin grafting or using local flaps.
At Cutis, skilled surgeons can determine customized bed sore treatment based upon a defect’s type or severity.
Bedsores are also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers. Injuries to the skin and underlying tissues may result from the prolonged pressure on a particular area of the skin due to inactivity. Bedsores develop on the skin that covers the bony areas of the body, such as ankles, heels, hips or tailbone. If you ever become wheelchair-bound or bedridden due to an illness or injury, then you may develop bedsores due to being on one side for long.
Bedsores can be categorized depending upon the severity of infection and the depth of injury. There are different stages of bedsores and these stages are determined by the degree of skin and tissue damage. A bedsore may have the following characteristics.
A pressure ulcer or bedsore may result from the following factors.
Pressure
Blood carries oxygen and other nutrients to different parts of the body along with the tissues. The flow of blood lessens if constant pressure is applied to one part of the body and the surrounding tissues receive limited volume of or no oxygen in this scenario. These tissues may die or become damaged resulting in pressure-sores.
In people with limited mobility, the bedsores are seen in spine, tailbone, shoulder blades, hips, heels or elbows, as there is less padding of muscle or fatty-tissues overlying the bones.
Friction
If one area of the skin rubs against clothing/bedding for a long period, then the skin may become fragile. The skin becomes vulnerable to injury in this scenario if it remains moist.
Shearing
If two surfaces move in opposite direction, then it results in shearing. The skin is pulled due to the application of opposite force which may result in pressure sore.
Pressure ulcers or bedsores may develop in the following scenarios.
Immobility
Immobility may result from the spinal cord injury, poor health or other health problems.
Incontinence
Skin becomes vulnerable due to longstanding exposure to urine/stool.
Inadequate Sensory Perception
Lack of sensation may result from spinal cord trauma, neurological disorders and other medical conditions. An individual cannot feel any pain or discomfort due to this reason and cannot recognise the need to change the position. This lack of movement results in pressure sores.
Inadequate Nutrition and Hydration
The breakdown of skin tissues results from having insufficient fluid along with the vitamins, minerals, protein or calories. In this scenario, an individual may develop bedsores if a medical condition (diabetes or vascular disease) prevents the blood from flowing properly.
A variety of complications may result from pressure-sores.
Cellulitis
This is an infection of the skin and surrounding soft tissues. The affected area of the skin becomes red, swollen and warm to touch. The area of cellulitis is usually painful to touch; however, an individual suffering from nerve damage may not feel any pain.
Bone or Joint Infections
The infection resulting from pressure sore may lead to the joints and bones.
Joint infections or septic arthritis may damage the cartilage and tissue.
Osteomyelitis or bone infections may reduce the function of limbs or joints.
Sepsis
Pressure ulcers may rarely lead to sepsis.
Cancer
One type of Squamous cell carcinoma may result from the non-healing wounds of pressure ulcer.
The stage-II bedsores usually heal between 1-6 weeks. However, an improvement in the condition of pressure sores may be noticed with the application of topical/oral antibiotics, cleaning of wounds or the removal of pressure from the affected areas of the body. It is prudent to consult with a doctor if no improvement is noticed within 24-48 hours despite using these measures.
At Cutis, experienced cosmetic surgeons provide proper bed sore treatment. They can customize a treatment plan depending upon the stage of pressure sores and a patient’s overall health condition.
Yes, it is possible to prevent the development of bedsores. However, this task requires dedication and knowledge of wound care.
Application of dressings for the following benefits
The treatment of bed-sores or pressure-sores depends upon the stage of infection. At Cutis, a cosmetic surgeon may debride the damaged, dead or infected tissues off the moderately severe wounds. However, a bed sore surgery has to be performed for the large wounds. It is performed in three processes.
Direct Closure
This method is rarely used. It is suitable for the wounds with a little bit of tissue loss. The edges of the pressure ulcer are forced together using a direct suture.
Skin Grafting
At Cutis, skin grafting is used in some scenarios for surgical repair of bedsores.
The split-thickness skin graft is ideal for the large, shallow and well-granulating pressure ulcers. It is suitable if non-physiological high mechanical strain is not an issue.
A full-thickness skin graft has better mechanical properties than a split-thickness skin graft.
Local Flaps
Local flaps are most commonly used in order to cover the wounds and to protect the affected bone. Different types of flaps (Random flaps, Fasciocutaneous flaps, axial flaps, Scrotal flaps, Myocutaneous flaps) are used for the repair. The nature of the flaps differs depending upon the type of the tissue in flaps or the type of vascular supply.
We provide effective surgical and non-surgical treatments for all parts of the body. At Cutis Hospital, our cosmetic and plastic surgery team is committed to giving patients safe and high-quality care.
