What Is A Pressure Sore?

Definition

A pressure sore, according to the NHS website is an ‘area of damage to your skin and the tissue underneath. You have a higher chance of getting them if you have difficulty moving. Pressure ulcers usually form on bony parts of the body, such as the heels, elbows, hips and tailbone.’

What Causes a Pressure Sore?

Pressure sores (also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers) are caused by something rubbing on your skin. Typically, those with problems moving develop pressure sores. They develop because the weight of your body is constantly putting pressure on the same area(s) of skin, which damages it.

How Can I Recognise a Pressure Sore?

Symptoms of a pressure ulcer include:

• Discoloured patches of skin that do not change colour when pressed –the patches are usually red on white skin, or purple or blue on black or brown skin
• A patch of skin that feels warm, spongy or hard
• Pain or itchiness in the affected area of skin

The National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP) ‘aSSKINg’ framework lists 7 key principles to follow in recognising and preventing pressure sores developing. These principles are:

• A – Assess risk
• S – Skin assessment + skin care
• S – Surface (chair, cushion, bed, offloading devices)
• K – Keep moving
• I – Incontinence / increased moisture
• N – Nutrition
• G – Give information (family, MDT, safeguarding)

NWCSP guidance states:

• Risk Assessment should be completed within 6 hours of admission to hospital or care home.
• Document the outcome of the risk
• If there is a change in condition, circumstances or environment then the resident should be re-assessed.
• If condition is stable, review at regular

Categories/Stages of Pressure Sores

When recognising pressure sores, it’s important to know that there are multiple stages/categories to determine the type or severity of the injury sustained. These include:

• Non blanchable erythema – discoloration of skin that doesn’t turn white when pressed
• Partial thickness skin loss – presenting as a shallow open ulcer with red/pink wound bed.
• Full thickness skin loss –fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle not exposed.
• Full thickness tissue loss – exposed bone, tendon or muscle.

Pressure ulcers where the skin is broken but the wound bed is not visible due to slough or necrosis (formally referred to as ‘unstageable’) should initially be recorded as a Category 3 pressure ulcer, but immediately re-categorised and re-recorded in the patient’s records if debridement reveals category 4 pressure ulceration.

Am I At Risk?

Various factors contribute to an increased risk of reduced skin integrity. You have a higher chance of getting a pressure ulcer if you:

• Have problems moving
• Had a pressure sore before
• Have been unwell, in intensive care or had surgery recently
• Are underweight
• Have swollen, sweaty or broken skin
• Have poor circulation/fragile skin
• Have problems feeling sensation or pain

How Do I Prevent Pressure Sores?

You can prevent pressure sores by taking the following steps:

• Change position regularly
• Usespecialcushionsor mattresses
• Check skin for symptoms
• Stayactive if possible
• Eat healthy balanced diet
• Don’t smoke

Conclusion

Pressure sores are preventable, and oftentimes the development of pressure sores can be avoided if people are provided the appropriate care and management. As we know, injuries to the elderly in particular tend to have a disproportionate effect when compared with younger people; and otherwise ‘minor’ injuries may have a larger impact on them, or play a role in other injuries and distress further down the line as an exacerbating feature. Preventing such deterioration may contribute to a lower risk of future injury and diminished quality of life.

Unfortunately, the development of pressure sores can sometimes be a factor in neglect and abuse for residents in care homes. Irvings Law are specialists in handling claims involving care home neglect and injury and are committed to fighting neglect in care homes and securing financial compensation for victims of care home neglect.

Has your loved one been injuries as a result of neglect or injury in a care home?

For more information, please visit the care home injury compensation page of this website. Or, you can contact Irvings for a no obligation confidential chat by telephone on 0151 475 1999 or use our free phone number 0800 954 0243 and talk to our specialist care home injury team. Alternatively, you can submit your enquiry to us by email to info@irvingslaw.com.