Stages of decubitus ulcer (bed or pressure sores)
Decubitus ulcers (or pressure sores or bed sores) are preventable injuries to skin tissue. These pressure sore injuries open the body up to further infection and disease, often resulting in death or amputation. Pressure sores are broken down into 4 stages:-»Stage1: Decubitus ulcers are still intact, they are not open wounds. While the skin remains intact, there may be painful bruising underneath.»Stage2: Pressure wounds are open painful sores caused by unrelieved pressure. A stage 2 bedsore can look like a scrape (abrasion), blister, or a shallow crater in the skin.»Stage3: Pressure sore burrows deeper. The bedsore or pressure wound is open but the muscle, tendon and bone are not visible at this stage of the sore. A patient’s fatty tissue surrounding the pressure sore may be exposed at stage 3.»Stage4: Decubitus ulcer is in the deepest most traumatic stage. There is deep damage to skin tissue in the effected area and often damage to the surrounding joints and tendons. Osteomyelitis, infection of the bone, or Sepsis, blood infection, are often complications of an open Stage 4 decubitus ulcer.