Healthwise Knowledgebase

Idaho PUPC is privledged to partner with St. Luke's Healthwise Knowledgebase to offer you a valuable learning tool and resource for pressure ulcers.  Click on the topic titles below to link directly into Healthwise Knowledgebase for detailed information about pressure ulcers.

Pressure Sores: Topic Overview

An overview of pressure ulcers.  Topics include:

  • What are pressure sores?
  • What causes pressure sores?
  • How are they treated?
  • How can you prevent pressure sores?
  • What increases the risk of getting pressure sores?

The topic overview also contains frequently asked questions about pressure ulcers, as well as questions about diagnosis, getting treatment and ongoing concerns.

Symptoms

Pressure sores are described in four stages. In Stage 1 the sores are red and painful, but the skin has not opened.  In Stage 2 the skin usually breaks open, wears away, or forms an ulcer, which is usually tender and painful. During stage 3, the sore gets worse and extends into the tissue beneath the skin. At stage 4, the pressure sore is very deep, reaching into muscle and bone and causing extensive damage.

Exams & Tests

Pressure ulcers are usually diagnosed with a physical examination. Tests to confirm a diagnosis may include a skin and wound culture, blood tests, skin biopsy and x-ray.

Treatment Overview

Treatment focuses on preventing pressure sores from getting worse and on restoring healthy skin. Steps to treat pressure sores include managing the tissue load, keeping healthy tissue around the sore clean and protecting it from moisture, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking. 

Home Treatment

To prevent or help heal pressure sores minimize constant pressure, keep active, inspect skin daily, recognize what pressure sores look like, keep skin clean, moisturize skin with lotion, limit exposure to cold dry weather, don't use antiseptic cleansers, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid smoking.

Other Places to Get Help

More help can be found at Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Geriatrics Society: The AGS Foundation for Health and Aging.  Be sure to follow the 'Other Places to Get Help' link above to find out how these organizations can help you.