Unusual Cheek and Upper Extremity Pressure Ulcers Resulting from Head-on-Hand and Arm Napping

Pressure ulcers commonly occur on the sacrum, ischium, lateral trochanter, and heel where pressure or shearing forces continuously affect bony prominences. The following describes three cases of unusual pressure ulcers of the cheek and upper extremity. Patients developed the wounds as a result of lying face downward on the hand for a prolonged period. All facial wounds were treated conservatively and eventually healed, but the damage to the hands was irreversible due to severe complications related to muscle contraction. The authors suggest that the risk factors for these unusual ulcers are living alone, and the combination of sleep aid medication and alcohol consumption..