How to Treat a Pressure Wound

Pressure wounds, also known as pressure sores or bedsores, are ulcerous patches of skin and tissue that form when sustained pressure cuts off blood flow to that part of the body. Without blood, these areas begin to die. Bedsores often form on a person who sits or lies in one place for too long, meaning that the bed-bound and the handicapped are particularly susceptible, especially on the buttocks, hips and heels. Treatment in the early stages is much simpler than in the latter stages, when surgery may be required.

Things You'll Need

• Soft padding
• Mild soap and water
• Saline solution
• 18-gauge syringe

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Instructions

• 1

  Relieve pressure on the wound by moving the patient into a different position. A patient with a bedsore should be moved every 15 minutes. Soft padding such as sheepskin can help reduce friction on the wound during moving.

• 2

  Clean the wound. A bedsore in which the skin has not yet been broken can be cleaned with mild soap and water, but a more severe wound should be washed using a basic saline solution and an 18-gauge syringe. Do not use antiseptics such as hydrogen peroxide or iodine.

• 3

  Debride dead tissues, if the bedsore is severe enough. Debridement can be a surgical procedure, but it can also be performed using an irrigation device or by applying topical enzymes that eat away at the necrotic tissue. These procedures should be performed by a doctor or a qualified nurse.

• 4

  Dress the wound. According the Mayo Clinic, the kind of dressing will depend on the size and severity of the bedsore but, in general, the wound should be kept moist and the skin surrounding it dry.

• 5

  Improve the diet of the patient to help them obtain the nutrients needed to heal the wound. Feed them a diet rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and zinc.