Bedsores:
Also called as pressure sores or pressure ulcers, bedsores are injuries of the skin caused due to constant pressure and friction. In most cases, along with the skin, the underlying tissue is also damaged. Bedsores develop in people who are hospitalized for a long time and in people who are immobile due to a preexisting medical conditions. They often occur on the skin that is over joints and bony areas such as elbows, knees, hips, tailbone, hips, and ankles. They also occur behind the shoulders and the cranium. Bedsores mainly occur due to the pressure on the skin and the soft tissues, which results in restricted blood flow. “Pressure ulcers” also develop in people who have nutritional deficiencies, and people with medical conditions like diabetes and arteriosclerosis, and neuropathy. Bedsores can be classified into three categories. In Stage-1 bedsores, the skin is intact, but there is dark pigmentation. In Stage-2 bedsores, the skin of the bedsore loses some of its thickness and shows up as an ulcer. In Stage-3 bedsores, the skin is totally lost, and the subcutaneous fat is visible. In Stage-4 bedsores, not only is there loss of skin and tissue, the tendon, muscle, and the bone is also visible. They are preventable in the earlier stages, but in later stages removal of the dead tissue, and negative pressure wound therapy are some treatment options.
