What is a Pressure Ulcer?

A pressure ulcer is a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence caused by pressure or pressure in combination with shear.

They cause pain, discomfort and reduced quality of life to patients and represent a monumental cost to the health and social care system.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Pressure ulcers have a negative impact on quality of life. It is known that individuals with pressure ulcers frequently experience pain combined with fear, isolation and anxiety. Furthermore, Mortality rates are as high as 60% in the elderly with a pressure ulcer within one year of discharge from hospital.

How Big is the Problem?

Pressure ulcers remain an all too common problem throughout healthcare institutions. The magnitude of the problem is evident in that 18-22% of all patients across acute, long term care and home care environments are said to experience a pressure ulcer.
Given the fact that these injuries may be 95% avoidable, it is clear that attention to pressure ulcer prevention remains vital and often overlooked.

FOR MORE INFORMATION…

If you wish to know more about any of these postural presentations and how you can identify, correct or accommodate these with correct seating provision, request your free copy of The Clinician’s Seating Handbook.

** This post was originally published on http://blog.seatingmatters.com/reducing-pressure-ulcers/