Bed sores can occur when a person is bedridden, unconscious, unable to sense pain, or immobile. Bed sores are ulcers that occur on areas of the skin that are under pressure from lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, and/or wearing a cast for a prolonged period of time. Bed sores are also called pressure ulcers, pressure sores, and decubitus ulcers.

A bed sore develops when blood supply to the skin and underlying tissues is cut off for more than two to three hours. As the skin dies, the bed sore often starts as a red, painful area, which eventually turns purple.

Left untreated, the skin can break open and become infected. A bed sore can become deep, extending into the muscle. Once a bed sore develops, it is often very slow to heal. Bed sores often occur in the buttocks area (on the sacrum or iliac crest), or on the heels of the feet.

Some of the things one can do to prevent bed sores include:

• frequent turning and repositioning
• providing soft padding in wheelchairs and beds to reduce pressure
• providing good skin care by keeping the skin clean and dry
• inspecting the skin for areas of redness (often the first sign of skin breakdown).

Specific treatment of a bed sore is determined by your physician and based on the severity of the condition. Treatment may be more difficult once the skin is broken, and may include the following:

• removing pressure on the affected area

• protecting the wound with medicated gauze or other special dressings

• keeping the wound clean

• transplanting healthy skin to the wound area

• medication (i.e., antibiotics to treat infections)