The development of bed sores in a patient in hospital, is usually considered to indicate bad nursing. Bed sores occur from interruption of the nutrition of areas of skin where the blood supply has been impaired by pressure. Bed sores are almost inevitable in some patients. The very thin, the very heavy, the incantinent and those who through some injury to the spine have lost the sensation of the skin at these points are most likely to develop pressure sores. Common sites for bed sores are the sacral area and the heels. In patients with septic conditions, nutrition is impaired by prolonged fever and there is frequently anaemia. Their toxic condition renders them less likely to move about and the greatest care needs to be taken to prevent the development of these pressure ulcers. Frequent change of position and massage of pressure points with spirit followed by powder is the best method of prevention. Early post-operative mobilisation of all patients who are fit to get up has done much to prevent this distressing complaint.
In unconscious patients or those who have had some injury to the spinal cord, a large pressure sore can develop as soon as twelve hours after the injury or onset of the illness. A bed sore on the sacral area may even develop from the patient's position on the operating table during a long operation. Although pressure sores rarely develop over the scapulae or the elbows, these points are subject to soreness and require similar preventive treatment when a patient is washed. An ulcer may develop on the shin from the weight of the other leg, if the legs of an unconscious patient are left crossed. Research Bed Sores
Abbreviations
Medicine
Research Bed Sores