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Pressure Ulcers
Start Your Path to Healing
Etiology of Pressure Sores
Causes of Pressure Ulcers
The most common cause of pressure ulcers is long-term, unrelieved pressure on the heel or ankle. Constant pressure damages the skin and tissue by decreasing the blood flow to that area. Other causes can be poor nutrition, poor health and excess moisture against the skin.
Symptoms of Pressure Ulcers
If you have any signs of the four stages of pressure ulcers, seek immediate attention from a wound care specialist. Having any of the four stages is cause for concern. Other symptoms can be:
- Red mark that stays the same for some time
- Blister that worsens over time
Stages
Symptoms of Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers are categorized into four stages. These stages help to categorize the extent of the damage. The four stages are:
- Stage 1 – The skin is intact but the ulcer appears red and does not lighten in color when touched.
- Stage 2 – The skin is broken and the ulcer may appear as a shallow crater.
- Stage 3 – The ulcer is now deep and the bottom may have dead tissue appearing yellowish.
- Stage 4 – There is excessive damage to the skin and the bone, muscles or tendons may be exposed.
Regardless of which stage you might have, please seek immediate attention from our wound care specialist.
Treatment Options
Treating pressure ulcers is vital because left untreated it can cause infection of the blood (sepsis), bone infections, joint infections, and possibly death. The Wound Care NYC Center offers advanced medical care for pressure ulcers. Some treatment options are:
- Pressure Off-Loading Devices
- Debridement
