In our lives, there is a special group of people who are either elderly or bedridden for a long time due to paraplegia caused by disease. For them, pressure sores are a health threat that cannot be ignored.
First, let's take a look at how pressure sores form. Long-term bed rest makes the skin of the body be compressed for a long time, affecting blood circulation, resulting in ischemia, hypoxia, and malnutrition of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, thus causing bedsores.
So, how to prevent pressure sores from occurring?
It is essential to keep your skin clean and dry. Scrub the patient's body regularly, change clean clothes and sheets, and avoid irritating the skin from sweat and urine.
Turning over at regular times is the key of the keys. Every 2 to 3 hours, the patient should be repositioned to relieve local compression.
Choosing the right mattress and cushion can also be a good preventative measure. Air beds, decompression cushions, etc. can effectively distribute pressure.
Enhanced nutritional support to ensure that patients consume enough protein, vitamins and minerals can help strengthen the skin's resistance.
Next, let's take a look at the stages of pressure sores.
Primary pressure sores: The skin is intact and the red spots do not fade.
Second-stage pressure sores: Damage to the epidermis or dermis with blisters or superficial ulcers.
Stage 3 pressure sores: full-thickness skin is absent, and subcutaneous fat is visible, but not to the bones and tendons.
Stage 4 pressure sores: full-thickness skin and tissue loss with exposure of bones, tendons, or muscles.
Treatment varies depending on the stage of pressure sores.
For primary pressure sores, it is mainly to strengthen care and avoid stress, which can usually recover on its own.
Second-stage pressure sores require the use of dressings to promote healing in addition to cleaning the wound.
Stage III and IV pressure sores often require debridement surgery to remove necrotic tissue and promote healing in combination with medication and wound care.
In conclusion, for the elderly and paraplegics who have been bedridden for a long time, preventing bedsores requires our care and patience. Once pressure sores are found, it is necessary to take the right treatment measures in time to save patients from the pain of pressure sores and improve their quality of life.