Why Do I Have Bedsores?
Bed sores are actually pressure ulcers, and they are some of the more frequently encountered medical conditions in patients requiring long-term care. Around 2.5 million pressure ulcers are treated every year just in the U.S. alone. Research varies, but it is estimated that between 40% and 50% of hospitalized patients can develop bedsores. One research study demonstrated that the actual need for long-term care with patients and pressure ulcers approached 50% while in those without any pressure ulcers, the need was only around 16%.
Complications With Bedsores
Pressure ulcers that do not heal will lead to a variety of serious medical complications, including cellulitis, which is an infection of the skin, septic arthritis, joint infection, and osteomyelitis, an infection of the bones. All of these can lead to Sepsis, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening systemic infection when bacteria enter your bloodstream. In some cases, they might also lead to a type of squamous cell carcinoma, or cancer.
Causes For Bedsores
Pressure ulcers or bedsores develop for several reasons, which then tend to lead to or cause increased risk during periods of extended or prolonged pressure, and are usually treated by reducing these factors.
- Immobility- Preventing any period of extended immobility is the most crucial step in preventing and healing pressure ulcers. This includes you initiating activities such as making sure you change position while you are in bed and lifting yourself up off a wheelchair at a minimum once every 2 hours.
- Malnutrition- Poor nutritional status will cause the loss of fatty tissue, which also serves as a cushion over pressure-sensitive areas. It will also lead to decreased resilience of skin tissue and decreased exposure time for the development of a pressure ulcer. Treatment is directed at correcting any potential nutritional deficits.
- Poor Skin Perfusion, or Decreased Blood Flow- Any reduction in blood flow to your skin can cause hypoxia, decreased oxygen in skin tissues, which causes decreased exposure time to develop a bedsore ulcer. Efforts need to be taken to improve perfusion and include offloading to prevent pressure-induced ischemia, and interventional procedures, in some cases, might need hyperbaric therapy if indicated.
- Sensory Loss- Poor sensation does not allow you to feel when pressure is building up. Again, any effort aimed at increasing your awareness is key. It is good to be aware of bed sores that can also arise from several other etiologies, which are not pressure-induced but are important.
- Moisture- Increased moisture over prolonged periods can also lead to skin maceration and cause your skin to be more prone to injury from pressure and other forces. In some cases, this moisture can be the primary cause of ulceration, even without any pressure.
- Friction/Shear- Friction or shear-induced ulcers or skin tears can be yet another potential etiology for a bedsore, and comes from moving your skin over the surface of a fixed object. This could be something as simple as pulling a sheet up to position yourself in bed, so particular care should be taken if you are bedridden for a time.
Reach out to learn about bedsore wound care management.