How to… Ten top tips: preventing pressure ulcers

Marie Wilson
29 August 2011

<p>Pressure ulcers are defined as localised damage to the skin and/or underlying tissues usually caused by sustained pressure at the interface between bone and soft tissue. Pressure ulceration can range in severity from non-blanching erythema of intact skin (tissue redness that does not turn white when pressure is applied with a finger), to deep tissue loss with muscle, tendon, and/or bone involvement[1]. They are caused by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors[2]. The intrinsic factors include immobility, sensory impairment, age and/or chronic illness[3,4]. The extrinsic factors include forces such as shear, friction and pressure[1].</p>

Are you a healthcare professional? This website is for healthcare professionals only. To continue, please confirm that you are a healthcare professional below.

We use cookies responsibly to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website. Read about how we use cookies.

I am not a healthcare professional.