Where Do Pressure Sores Develop?
Pressure sores are usually seen over bony prominences, including the coccyx (tailbone), buttocks, heels, elbows, and other areas. In such areas, the skin is pressed and rubbed between the bone underneath and the clothes or bedsheets above. The clothes and sheets act like sandpaper, rubbing away the layers of the skin. If this goes undetected, which may happen in an area of numbness, the skin can erode all the way down to the muscle, or even the bone. The exposed tissues may become infected and begin to decay from lack of blood circulation. In some cases, this can be life-threatening. Fortunately, pressure sores are preventable. What Causes Pressure Sores? While immobility is a primary cause, other factors also increase the risk of pressure sores. These include paralysis or spasticity, which can decrease mobility; numbness and loss of sensation, which can result in the inability to feel the friction or irritation; advanced age, which is often accompanied by decreased mobility; poor nutr
Related Questions
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