Skin Disorders or Musculoskeletal Disorders Decubitus Ulcers Steven M Woyciechowski
Carrington College
Class# BCC115
Instructor: Linda Bingham
1/18/2015
Skin Disorders or Musculoskeletal Disorders
Decubitus Ulcers,
The Topic that is going to be discussed is Decubitus Ulcers, also known as pressure sores
Also commonly known as bedsores. Pressure ulcers are rapidly becoming a major health
Problem in this era of short hospital stays, increasing severity of illness, lack of support
Systems in the home, and shortage of nurses. The estimated cost of pressure ulcer care per
Year is $6.5 billion with $640 million spent on treatment products alone. -
Abruzzi’s, R. (n.d.). The First Decubitus Editorial...20 Years Later. In The First Decubitus
Editorial...20 Years Later. These ulcers are mainly found on bony parts of the
Body, or bony prominences, including the coccyx (tailbone), buttocks, heels, elbows, and
other areas. . They are caused by factors like friction, shearing forces, humidity,
temperature, age, unrelieved Pressure, continence and medication. Pressure Sores Treatment,
Causes & Classification. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2015, from
History of Decubitus ulcers, are areas of broken skin that can develop in people who have
Been confined to the bed for extended periods of time or unable to move for short periods of
Time. Use a wheelchair or bedside chair (a hospital chair that allows a patient to sit upright
Next to the bed) Bedsores are common in people in hospitals and nursing homes and in
People being cared for at home. Bedsores form where the weight of the person's body presses
The skin against the firm surface of the bed. In people who use a wheelchair, bedsores tend to
Occur on the buttocks and bottoms of the feet. This pressure temporarily cuts off the skins
Blood supply. This injures skin cells. Unless the pressure is relieved and blood flows to the
Skin again, the skin soon begins to show signs of injury. The pressure that causes bedsores
Does not have to be very intense. Normally, our skin is protected from being injured by
Pressure because we move frequently, even when asleep. Bedsores (Decubitus Ulcers).
Although pressure on the skin is the main cause of bedsores, other factors often contribute to
The problem. These include:
Shearing and friction — Shearing and friction causes skin to stretch and blood vessels to kink,
Which can impair blood circulation in the skin. In a person confined to bed,
Shearing and friction occurs each time a person slides across the bed sheets. Think of this as
Pulling the bones of the pelvis in one direction and the skin in the opposite direction.
Moisture — Wetness from perspiration, urine can make the outer skin break down and cause a pressure sore
Decreased movement — Bedsores are common in people who can't lift themselves off the bed
Sheets or roll from side to side. Without these small movements throughout the day, it will
Decrease blood flow in parts of the skin. (People who can move without assistance have a
Lower risk of bedsores.)
Decreased sensation — Bedsores are common in people who have nerve problems such as MS or patients with spinal nerve injuries. They do not have pain sensation and do not feel pressure on the skin.
Circulatory problems — People with atherosclerosis, long-term diabetes or localized swelling
(Edema) may be more likely to develop bedsores. This is because the blood sugar is high and
Blood flow in their skin is weak, even before pressure is applied to the skin.
Poor nutrition —Bedsores are more likely to
