Diagnosis & Treatment of Decubitus Ulcers
Diagnosis
of a Decubitus Ulcer
Medical personnel may take samples of the pressure ulcer
tissue and fluid to look for bacteria or cancer. They may also do blood
cultures, bone scans or other tests depending on the seriousness of the ulcer. In addition,
they will evaluate the condition of the ulcer according to:
- The
size of the decubitus ulcer and depth of the crater
- What
kind of tissue is affected by the ulcer: skin, bone, or muscle
- The
color of the ulcer and skin around it
- The
tissue death caused by the ulcer
- The
presence of infection, bleeding or foul odor
Treatment
of Decubitus Ulcers
Depending on the stage of the ulcer, treatment can include some
or all of the following:
- Cleaning
the ulcer and putting a dressing on the wound
- Meticulous
wound care with frequent dressing changes
- Reducing
pressure on the area by repositioning and using supporting surfaces
- Antibacterial
drugs to treat infection
- Pain
medications to relieve discomfort
- Debridement
surgery to remove dead tissue from the ulcer
- Diet
changes and increased fluid intake for faster recovery
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