Pressure Ulcers. Evaluation and Treatment.

Pressure ulcers are injuries to the skin and adjacent tissue resulting from continuous pressure and shearing forces that, therefore, are mostly present in bony areas. The seriousness of pressure ulcers lies in the physical and emotional impact on patients, the escalating costs, prolonged hospital stays, and elevated risk of nosocomial infections, depending on the affected area. A surge of ischemia that affects all layers of the skin causes this type of lesions; if the condition progresses, it affects articulations and muscular and bone tissue. There are multiple factors for its development. In many cases, the colonization of injuries and subsequent infection may impact the natural progression of the patient's illness. It is recommended to identify those individuals who may have a potential risk of developing pressure injuries in order to plan and implement individual preventive intervention. This approach is structured in two phases: 1) the implementation of a screening process to identify patients who may develop pressure ulcers, and 2) complete risk evaluation of pressure ulcers in patients at high probability. This recommendation is supported by the use of clinical judgment and risk evaluation tools. The treatment for pressure ulcers is based on general measures, the management of surfaces, nutrition, wound cleaning, surgical treatment, treatment of associated complications such as infections, and adjuvant therapies dedicated to the improvement of healing.