Cause of Pressure Ulcers Discussion 2022

Running head: PRESSURE ULCERS 1
Pressure Ulcers
Name
Institution

PRESSURE ULCERS 2
PRESSURE ULCERS
Introduction
This paper will explore the problem of pressure ulcers. It also looks at some of the
problems associated with pressure ulcers that led to the development of the policy. The two main
descriptions of pressure ulcers that have been used widely in clinical research and practice were
provided by different researchers (Bhattacharya & Mishra, 2015). Many researchers argue that a
pressure injury refers to an area of localized injury to the skin as well as underlying tissue
initiated by friction pressure, shear, friction, or both the three factors in combination (Baron et al.
2016). On the other hand, some researchers describe a pressure ulcer as a localized injury to the
body skin or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, because of pressure, or a
combination of friction, shear, and pressure. According to the two definitions, the factor pressure
plays a major role in the development of pressure ulcer; while the factor friction and shear
remain included in the two definitions provided by the researchers (Jiang et al. 2017). Pressure
ulcers remain a common problem in most of the world. For example, in Ireland, Pressure Ulcer
prevalence is approximated at 16 percent, while the mean incidence remains approximated at 11
percent. These figures show the international data where the mean prevalence stays at 20.9% in
the acute setting as well as 11.7 percent in the long stay. Globally, acute care setting was found
to be at 18 percent, and along stay was found to be at 6.6 percent (Järbrink et al. 206). Pressure
injuries pose major psychological as well as physical problems for people, affecting negatively
on activities of our daily life with acute, obstinate pain, being one the most difficult as well as
common aspects to individuals with Pressure ulcers (Ling, Raman, Tan, Hao & Saw, 2019).
Pressure ulcers may be prevented when people who are at risk are identified, and proper
measures are established to lower the risk (Ribble, Emmons, Agdeppa, Lachenbruch & Bedel,
2017). In spite of this, the actual growth of pressure ulcers usually arises since the health care

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sector has not come up with appropriate prevention strategies. Annually, in most countries, the
most significant burden comes from pressure ulcers (Demarré et al. 2015). To reduce the burden
and to lower the high death rate caused mainly by pressure ulcers, Ashford Hospital developed
policy for pressure injury prevention as well as management. The aim of this policy is to prevent
pressure ulcers by the use of measures detailed within this policy. This policy also provides high
quality care more so in pressure injury prevention as well as management for clients/patients of
the hospital.
Types of Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers remain a common problem for older people, particularly for those who
are unable to stand and move about by themselves (Swisher et al. 2015). As constant pressure
remains put on their skin, sore may occur because of adequate blood and oxygen flow to the
area. This may then cause the skin to die or break down. This may lead to sores that remain
extremely hard to heal. This means that pressure is a major factor in pressure ulcer. The exact
definition of Pressure ulcers which are accepted by many researchers is that Pressure ulcers are
damages to the skin as well as underlying tissue, mainly initiated by prolonged pressure to the
skin. This disease (pressure ulcer) may happen to anyone, but normally affect individuals
confined to bed (Wound, 2017). Nevertheless, any service user could develop a Pressure injury
only if they remain exposed to unrelieved, prolonged shear, and pressure forces. The danger of
pressure ulcers may cause varying degrees of damage to the patients. The following stages can
normally identify the patient's sore:
Stage 1
At this stage, a pressure ulcer is just beginning. The patient's skin has not been broken;
however, a sore shall appear as a red mark that remains cool or warm to touch (Bauer, Rock,

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Nazzal, Jones & Qu, 2016). The sore may not be painful at this stage. The sore may appear
purple to individuals with darker skin.
Stage 2
At this point, the pressure ulcer shall develop to an open sore. The skin’s outer layer has
worn out. The skin forms a sore which remains tender and painful.
Stage 3
At this stage, the pressure ulcer shall be deep. Loss of skin remains extremely serious.
And the sore shall be deep. At this stage, fat may appear in the sore, but not tendon, muscle, or
bone.
Stage 4
This remains the worst type of pressure ulcer. It may mean loss of muscle, including
tendons and tissue. This type of ulcer type may cause severe damage to the tissue, joints, and
tendons of the patient.
Impact of pressure ulcer to patient life
There remains adverse health outcomes linked to a pressure ulcer. Pressure injury affects
a patient’s quality of life, mortality, or morbidity. Once Pressure ulcer develops, complications,
for example infection with the potential for sepsis as well as death may occur. For instance,
Christopher died in the year 2004 following the disease-related infection that led to the
development of Cardiac arrest to the Patient. Also, Pressure ulcers may interfere with the
Patient's functional recovery, promote social isolation, produce discomfort and pain, as well as
contribute to an extended stay in the hospital.
The financial effects of a Pressure ulcer remain vast and variable. Annually, more than
2.5 million people received treatment in acute care facilities (Kumar et al. 2019). And the