ThePclinic

Bed sore are pressure point ulcers develop in the bed ridden patients. Many patients unable to move and even change the sides become the victim of pressure sores. Unconscious, paralytic, old ages, fracture of hip or neurological deficit patients remaining bed ridden are prone to it. These bed sores refuse to heal and go worse from day to day. Best way is to prevent it than to treat it.
Some points are to be kept in mind while managing bed ridden patients;

• Bed should be soft and without any folds.
• A water bed is always better if can be affordable.
• Bed sheets should not be of rough type and there should not be any creases.
• Change of sides of patient at frequent intervals.
• The bed should not be soiled with water, urine or feces
• The patients should be cleaned daily and body sprayed with talc powder. Surgical spirit can be applied all over body; especially over the pressure points like; hip, gluteal region, shoulder blades, heels and back etc. two to three times a week.

All of the above will prevent development of bed sore.
But if develops, all of the above steps must be followed rigorously. A dressing is to be applied over the wound after cleaning with a mild antiseptic lotion. Diabetic status is to be checked and if present will be controlled. Oral protein supplementation should be continued if otherwise not contraindicated e.g. patients suffering from hepatic coma; but can be given through intravenous route. A short course of antibiotic coverage keeping an eye on anaerobic bacteria coverage is to be given; but a culture and sensitivity test to choose an antibiotic is better than empirical choice. Vitamin B can be given to assist in healing. Sometimes blood and blood fractions may be required if there is anemia.
The gold standard is “Prevention is better than cure”.

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