Pressure Ulcer (Pressure Sore)
Alternate Names : Bedsore, Decubitus Ulcer
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Prevention
Education of at-risk patients and their families is the most productive way to prevent pressure ulcers. Steps toward prevention include:
- Identifying individuals at high risk for pressure ulcers.
- Ensuring that immobile patients change their position at least every two hours to relieve pressure.
- Using items that can help reduce pressure caused by bedsheets and wheelchairs (e.g., pillows, sheepskin, foam padding, and powder to relieve pressure).
- Making sure patients eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
- Encouraging daily exercise, including range-of-motion exercises for immobile patients.
- Following good skin care, including inspecting the skin every day and keeping skin clean and dry. Incontinent people need to take extra steps to limit areas of moisture.
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