What causes a decubitus ulcer and what is its common name?

Answer 1

Decubitus ulcer is commonly called bed sore, or pressure sore, and there are various causes of it, the underlying cause being immobility. Bed sores are a huge problem in the medical world, for they cost around $20, 000 just to treat. This is due to their debilitating nature, and the fact that they often develop in patients who already have many comorbidities.

Bed sores can occur in various situations:
a) Patient who is bed-bound due to multiple fractures
b) Neurological condition in which patient is paralysed/experiences weakness on either side of body
c) Delirious patients who are restrained in bed.
d) Chronic disease which cause peripheral neuropathy, like diabetes mellitus. In this condition, a patient will lose sensation of his peripheries and might not be able to feel pain, even when there is an overt open wound, and he might also not feel heat when he touched a boiling kettle. Such instances lead to pressure sores as well.

Classically the decubitus ulcer is described at the ball of your foot, but it can happen almost anywhere, including over bony prominences like your elbow and ankle, and especially so, over your gluteal (buttock) region.

To prevent bed sores, it has been researched and found out that you have to move the patient into a new position every 2 hours, coz it takes that same amount of time for a bed sore to develop.

Hope this helps. :D

Answer 2

Decubitus Ulcer Causes

Answer 3

Decubitus ulcer is also called a pressure sore or bed sore.

Factors which increase risk for pressure ulcers include:

Age -- elderly people are at higher risk
Inability to move certain parts of the body without assistance, such as with spinal or brain injury patients, and patients with neuromuscular diseases
Malnourishment
Being bedridden or in a wheelchair
Having a chronic condition, such as diabetes or artery disease, that prevents areas of the body from receiving proper blood flow and nutrition
Urinary incontinence or bowel incontinence (moisture next to the skin for long periods of time can cause skin irritation that may lead to skin breakdown)
Fragile skin
Mental disability from conditions, such as Alzheimer's (some patients may not be capable of taking the proper steps toward prevention and may not seek appropriate treatment when an ulcer has formed)

Answer 4

Decubitus ulcers are commonly called bed sores. They occur when there is a break down in the skin. This can happen when people are bed ridden and put to much pressure on one area. People need to be moved regularly and make sure there are no wrinkles in their beddings, their skin is kept clean and dry, and they recieve proper nutrition.

Answer 5

Decubitus Ulcer is most commonly caused by unrelieved pressure on a bony prominence of the body, like hips, ankles, shoulders etc. Most common name ..... bed sore

Answer 6

Bedsores - they usually occur in the skin overlying bony projections, such as on the hip, heel, elbow, or shoulder. These sores can often be prevented by changing the position of the body frequently or by massaging the skin to stimulate blood flow in regions with bony prominences.