Pressure ulcers: prevention and management

To describe important aspects of pressure ulcer prevention and management, especially in elderly patients.

We reviewed pertinent published material in the medical literature and summarized effective strategies in the overall management of the elderly population with pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcers are commonly encountered in geriatric patients. The development of a pressure ulcer is associated with an increased risk of death. Certain well-recognized risk factors, such as immobility and incontinence, may predispose to the development of pressure ulcers; consequently, risk factor modification is an important aspect of prevention and treatment. For existing lesions, various innovative patient support surfaces and wound care products have been developed to alleviate pressure and to facilitate wound healing. The use of a particular product should be based on the clinical setting and the limited scientific evidence available. With treatment, most pressure ulcers eventually heal.

Pressure ulcers are often, but not always, preventable. The occurrence of such an ulcer signals the possible presence of chronic comorbid disease and should prompt a search for underlying risk factors in patients for whom ulcer treatment is considered appropriate.