Pressure injuries, also termed bedsores, decubitus ulcers, or pressure ulcers, are localized skin and soft tissue injuries that form as a result of prolonged pressure and shear, usually exerted over bony prominences.[1][2] These ulcers are present 70% of the time at the sacrum, ischial tuberosity, and greater trochanter. However, they can also occur in the occiput, scapula, elbow, heel, lateral malleolus, shoulder, and ear.[3] Besides bony prominences, they can also occur due to medical or other devices, such as cell phones.[4] Pressure injuries vary in severity and characteristics.
Etiology
The development of pressure injuries is complex and multifactorial. External and internal factors co-occur to form these ulcers. Externally, prolonged pressure, friction, shear force, and moisture can lead to tissue deformation and ischemia. Internal factors such as malnutrition, anemia, and endothelial dysfunction can speed up the process of tissue damage.[6][7]
Decreased mobility, skin moisture, poor nutritional status, and loss of sensory perception stand out as the most common risk factors. However, researchers have also identified older age, cognitive impairment, and comorbid conditions affecting tissue healing.[1]
Prolonged pressure on tissues can cause capillary bed occlusion, reducing oxygen levels in the area. Over time, the ischemic tissue begins to accumulate toxic metabolites. Subsequently, tissue ulceration and necrosis occur. Immobility of only two hours in a bedridden patient or patient undergoing surgery is sufficient to form the foundation of a decubitus ulcer.[7]
The dysfunction of nervous regulatory mechanisms responsible for regulating local blood flow is also somewhat culpable in forming these ulcers.[8]
Patients with the following conditions exhibit a predisposition to decubitus ulcers:
Neurologic disease
Cardiovascular disease
Prolonged anesthesia
Dehydration
Malnutrition
Hypotension
Surgical patients
Epidemiology
Pressure ulcers are a significant healthcare problem worldwide, which affects several thousands of people each year.[7] Up to 3 million adults are affected annually in the United States alone.[3] Pressure injury management is a significant source of economic burden. In 2019, Padula and Delarmente estimated that hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) costs could exceed $26.8 billion.[9] Their study simulated an incidence of 8.3 HAPI per 100 acutely ill patients. This number is consistent with previous studies, which showed that 7.9% of at-risk patients had HAPI.[10]
Sacral decubitus ulcers usually occur in elderly patients. Patients who are incontinent, paralyzed, or debilitated are more prone to getting them. Patients with normal sensory status, mobility, and mental status are less likely to form these ulcers because their regular physiologic feedback system leads to frequent physical positional shifts. As stated above, older patients are more prone to sacral decubitus ulcers, and two-thirds of ulcers occur in patients older than 70 years. Some data show that 83% of hospitalized patients developed ulcers within 5 days of hospitalization.[7]
Pathophysiology
Decubitus ulcer formation is multifactorial, but these ulcers result in a common pathway to ischemia and necrosis. Tissues can sustain an abnormal amount of external pressure, but constant pressure exerted over a prolonged period is the main culprit. External pressure must exceed the arterial capillary pressure of 32 mm Hg to impede blood flow. The pressure must be greater than the venous capillary closing pressure of 8 to 12 mm Hg to impair venous blood return. Sustaining pressure above these values leads to tissue ischemia and necrosis.[11] This significant pressure can result from compression by a firm mattress, hospital bed railings, or any hard surface in contact with the patient.
In addition, the EPUAP emphasized the link between the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and the development of pressure ulcers. The panel attributed the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, abundant in COVID-19 patients, as a contributor to the onset and maintenance of inflammation following cell death and the formation of a pressure ulcer.[11] Friction caused by skin rubbing against surfaces like clothing or bedding can also lead to the development of ulcers by contributing to breaks in the superficial layers of the skin. Moisture can cause ulcers and worsen existing ulcers via tissue breakdown and maceration.