Management and Surgical Treatment of Pressure Sore

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J Korean Med Assoc. 2002;45(9):1121-1128
Publication date (electronic) : 2016 August 09
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2002.45.9.1121

Abstract

Decubitus means 'a lying down', so pressure sore is a more correct term because tissue necrosis and ulcers are caused by excessive and continuous pressure. Pressure sores are easily developed in patients with chronic illness such as unconsciousness, spinal cord injury, anemia, diabetes, or malaise. So these patients need special attention, and the prevention is most important.

Nowadays infected pressure sores are very difficult to control due to highly resistant bacterias such as MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Early-stage pressure sores can be healed with local conservative treatments or skin grafts, but advanced and deep pressure sores need flap surgery with good blood supply and enough tissue padding over bony prominence. In postoperative state. the recurrence of pressure sores is very common occurring in about half of patients, so nursing care should be focused to relieve pressure. We have to recover patients with pressure sore as early possible as in order to relieve the patients physically and psychologically.

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