Makindo Medical Notes"One small step for man, one large step for Makindo" |
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๐๏ธ Pressure ulcers (bedsores/decubitus ulcers) can form within 1โ2 hours of sustained pressure. โ ๏ธ Never leave patients on hard surfaces (e.g. A&E trolleys, X-ray tables) for long periods. Early detection & prevention are key to avoiding complications.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Intact skin, non-blanchable erythema over bony area. May feel warmer or firmer. In dark skin, redness may be harder to spot. |
| Grade 2 | Partial-thickness dermis loss โ shallow red-pink ulcer or blister. |
| Grade 3 | Full-thickness skin loss โ visible fat but no exposed bone/muscle. May have slough. |
| Grade 4 | Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. Often undermining/tunnelling. |
| Unstageable | Depth obscured by slough/eschar (yellow, brown, black). True grade unclear until debridement. |
๐ Exam Pearl: โ Grade 1 = erythema, intact skin. โ Grade 4 = exposed bone/muscle. โ Always reposition immobile patients every 2 hours to prevent sores. โ Healing requires pressure relief + nutrition + infection control.