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Pressure Sores
Pressure sores usually develop on the
skin over a
bony area
where there is less cushion between the skin and bones. Most
pressure sores develop on the lower part of the body, on the skin over the
sacrum and tailbone (the lowest part of the back), the
hips, buttocks, or heels. Pressure sores also occur on the back of the head,
the backs of ears, around the shoulders and elbows, between the knees, and over
the ankles.
Pressure sores are described in four
stages :1
- Stage 1 sores are not open wounds. The
skin may be painful, but it has no breaks or tears. The skin appears
reddened and does not blanch (lose color briefly when you press your finger on it then remove your finger). In a dark-skinned person, the area may appear to be a different color than the surrounding skin, but it may not look red.
Skin temperature is often warmer. And the stage 1 sore can feel either firmer
or softer than the area around it.
- At stage 2, the skin usually breaks open, wears away, or forms an ulcer, which is usually tender and painful. The sore expands into deeper layers of the skin. It can look like a scrape (abrasion) or a shallow crater in the skin. Sometimes this stage looks like a blister filled with clear fluid. At this stage, some skin may be damaged beyond repair or may die.
- During stage 3, the sore gets worse and extends into the tissue beneath the skin, forming a small crater. Fat may show in the sore, but not muscle, tendon, or bone.
- At stage 4, the pressure sore is very deep, reaching into muscle and bone and causing extensive damage. Damage to deeper tissues, tendons, and joints may occur.
In stages 3 and 4 there may be little or no pain due to significant tissue damage. Serious complications, such as infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or blood (sepsis), can occur if pressure sores progress.
Sometimes a pressure sore does not fit into one of these stages.
- In some cases, a deep pressure sore is suspected but can't be confirmed. When there isn't an open wound but the tissues beneath the surface have been damaged, the sore is called a deep tissue injury (DTI). The area of skin may look purple or dark red, or have a blood-filled blister. If you or your doctor suspects a pressure sore, the area is treated as though a pressure sore has formed.
- There are also pressure sores that are "unstageable," meaning that the stage is not clear. In these cases, the base of the sore is covered by a thick layer of other tissue and pus that may be yellow, gray, green, brown, or black. The doctor cannot see the base of the sore to determine the stage.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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