We make your job easier
Naturally, knowing that our medical devices make a difference for patients and residents every day makes us very proud – but at the same time we also know that healthcare professionals work very hard work and with great devotion, taking care of their patients day in and day out.
Our Action Plan for Pressure Ulcers is our guide to prevent, identify, and treat pressure injuries and ulcers in practice. It gathers the latest advice and enables you to improve your knowledge and be able to offer care recipients efficient therapy and save healthcare resources.
Positioning
If a person makes too few spontaneous movements, there's an increased risk of pressure injuries. Regular change of position reduces the risk for both pressure injuries and ulcers.
Our Positioning Guide offers concrete advice on how to work with positioning pillows to support the prevention of pressure injuries. Positioning pillows also provide support when, for example, changing dressings and administering care.
Facts about pressure ulcers
Pressure ulcers are comprised of damaged skin tissue caused by an inadequate blood supply. They can develop anywhere on the body but are most commonly found in places where there are bones close to the skin as the pressure there is concentrated on a small area. Typical places for pressure ulcers are the sacrum, heel, iliac crest, ischial tuberosity, and ankle.
Pressure ulcers and pressure injuries develop when a person is immobile, has been lying or sitting in the same position for too long. They can arise at home, during transport, or while admitted to an institution or hospital.
A poor or insufficient diet is also a risk factor for developing pressure ulcers, as good nutrition is required to both heal wounds and fight infections.
Pressure ulcers/injuries are classified into six categories by the EPUAP (European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel)
Category I
Skin redness that does not disappear when pressure is applied, intact skin.
Category II
Partial skin injury, small ulcer or blister through the epidermis and corium.
Category III
Full skin injury, through the epidermis and corium down into the fatty tissue, no involvement of the muscles/joints. The depth can vary depending on the anatomical location.
Category IV
Deep. full skin injury, through all epidermal layers, involves muscles or tendons. The depth can vary depending on the anatomical location.
Unstageable pressure ulcer: depth unknown
Full skin injury where the bottom of the ulcer is covered by dead tissue. The depth cannot be determined until an adequate amount of necrotic tissue and/or fibrin can be removed.
Suspected deep tissue injury: depth unknown
Purple or maroon localised area with discoloured intact skin or blood-filled blister caused by pressure and/or shear resulting in damage to underlying tissue.