spacer Bedsores develop because of unrelieved pressure on bony parts of the body when an individual stays in one position for hours at a time, as Don did because he was too weak to move. They also arise from friction or shear when a patient slips out of position or drags himself in bed -- or is dragged by caregivers - instead of being lifted.

Most experts agree that bedsores can start to develop in as little as two hours. Drew Griffin, a certified wound care nurse with 18 years of experience, observes that if the patient is at high risk -- due to factors including immobility, other medical problems, poor nutrition, and dehydration -- it can take even less time.

The Mayo Clinic reports that even Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers can take months to heal. Stage III and Stage IV pressure ulcers may never heal. As Elaine pointed out, "The skin may grow over it, but you're missing the muscles and tendons and nerves. All that tissue that was destroyed and had to be removed because it was dead and never comes back."

After Don had been in the hospital for nearly three months, they finally diagnosed and addressed the illness that had put him there. He was soon well enough to be discharged to a rehabilitation facility. A month later, he was sent home. However, he still had four Stage IV bedsores.

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May 22, 2011

Bed sores preventable '100 percent of the time'

by Elizabeth L. Bewley

Don was newly retired at the age of 65 and looking forward to traveling with his wife Elaine. Then a series of medical problems landed him in the hospital. He deteriorated rapidly and became so weak that he was unable even to lift his head off the pillow. Many years later his wife, Elaine, recalled, "They told me he was going to die."

One day about a month after Don arrived at the hospital, there was a sudden flurry of activity, and he was moved to a gorgeous corner room that he had all to himself.

The new room was large enough that Elaine could stay when Don was being treated. She said, "I peeked through the curtain while they were turning him and I saw the bedsore on his lower back. It was four inches long and I could see down to his bone. Then I find out that he's got them all over. He had four of them."

Bedsores are also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. Don's were all Stage IV, the worst possible. It means that much of the tissue from the skin down to the bone has been damaged or even has died.