Plastic, Hand & Microsurgery>>Pressure Sores

Pressure sores are formed due to prolonged pressure on areas of skin which get compressed between the bed and the bony prominences.  This can occur in debilitated patients, unconscious patients or patients with injuries to spine with quadriplegia or paraplegia who are unable to move by themselves to relieve the pressure.

Studies have shown that pressures as little as 70 mm Hg applied over a period of 2 hours  can cause pathological changes.  At the same time they have shown that relief from pressure even for a short period of 5 minutes can go a long way in preventing these problems.

Regular care of patients with position change and air or fluid beds will help in preventing the occurrence of these ulcers but when they do occur they will need surgical cleaning (debridement)  of wounds.  This results in a deep cavity as lot of damaged tissues underneath are removed in this process.

Plastic Surgery can help in the healing of the wounds in these patients by designing various flaps which involves moving the surrounding skin and filling up these wounds.  This helps the wounds to heal faster and rehabilitate the patients earlier. 

Prevention tips

1. Avoid lying in the same position for more than one hour
2. Give adequate padding to bony prominences (Pressure points)
3. Use air bed if possible
4. Avoid maceration of tissues by keeping them dry as wet skin

Ischial Pressure Sore

Bilateral Ischial pressure sore

sacral pressure sore

Trochanteric pressure sore