An individual who is sedated, being givenanesthesiaor is too ill to move, cannot do the same.
The patient is responsible for taking medications correctly, getting up and walking as soon as possible.
For some patients, special beds may be utilized which can reduce the formation of pressure ulcers.
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Different types of pressure ulcers requiretreatments that vary widelydepending on how serious the ulcer has become.
Category/Stage I Non-blanchable erythema:Intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence.
Darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching; its color may differ from the surrounding area.
The area may be painful, firm, soft, warmer or cooler as compared to adjacent tissue.
May also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum-filled or serosanguineous filled blister.
Category/Stage III Full-thickness skin loss:Full thickness tissue loss.
Fat may be visible but bone, tendon, or muscle arenotexposed.
The depth of a Category/Stage III pressure ulcer varies by location.
In contrast, areas of fat deposits can develop extremely deep Category/Stage III pressure ulcers.
Category/Stage IV Full thickness tissue loss:Full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon or muscle.
The depth of a Category/Stage IV pressure ulcer varies by anatomical location.
T Exposed bone/muscle is visible or can be easily felt.