A decubitus ulcer, also called a pressure sore or bed sore, is an open wound on your skin.

Pressure sores often

occur on the skin covering bony areas. The most common places for a pressure sore to appear includes your
hips, back, ankles, and buttocks.
It is common among the elderly, disabled, and other people who spend long periods in bed or a wheelchair, or
cannot move certain body parts without help. Decubitus ulcers are also prone to those with fragile skin. The
condition is highly treatable and recovery is good with proper diagnosis.
Stage 1
The skin is unbroken, but shows discoloration. If you have a light complexion, the area may appear red. If you
have a dark complexion, the discoloration may vary from bluish to purple, or it may appear whitish.
Stage 2
The skin is open and shows signs of some tissue death around the wound. The ulcer is shallow or not too deep.
Stage 3
The ulcer is much deeper within the skins tissue (affecting the fat layers) and has the appearance of a crater. A
pus-like substance may be present in the sore as well.
Stage 4
This stage affects multiples layers of tissue, including muscle and bone. A dark substance called eschar may be
present inside the sore.
Unstageable
The ulcer may have a yellow, brown, or green scab covering it. The damage to the tissue layers is extensive and
requires removal.
What Causes a Decubitus Ulcer?
One of the main reasons for a decubitus ulcer to appear on your skin is undue pressure. Lying on a
certain area for long periods may cause the skin to break down. Your skin is thinner in places next
to bone or cartilage, and your hips, heels, and tailbone are especially vulnerable to pressure sores.
Other causes include the following:
Friction
You create friction when you scrape or rub your skin against a hard or rough surface. Friction burns
on the skin may damage the epidermis (the outermost layer of cells in your skin).
Urine and Feces
Wearing soiled clothing or undergarments for long periods may create open sores on the skin. This
may irritate the delicate outer skin layer.

Diagnosing a Decubitus Ulcer

Your regular doctor may refer you to a wound care team of doctors, specialists and nurses experienced in treating pressure sores.
The team may evaluate your ulcer based on several important aspects. These include:

The size and depth of the ulcer.

The type of tissue (skin, muscle, and/or bone) directly affected by the ulcer.

The color of the skin affected by the ulcer.

The amount of tissue death that occurs from the ulcer.

The condition of the ulcer (such as infection, foul odor, and bleeding).