196 chapter 24
Where are pressure sores most likely to form?
They can form over any
bony area. The places
where they form most often
are shown in the pictures.
The points of highest risk,
all on the hips, are marked
in CAPITAL LETTERS.
common sites
of sores in
feet that have
lost feeling
front of
knee
inner ankle bones
and base of big toe
(sores caused by
casts or footwear)
How dangerous are they?
back of
head
shoulder blades
crest of hip
TOP OF
THIGH BONE
(side of hip)
outside of knee
and top of lower
leg bone
outer
ankle bone
TAIL BONE
(BASE OF
SPINE)
BOTTOM
CURVES OF
HIP BONE
(from sitting)
back of
heel
Pressure sores, if not
very carefully cared for, can
become large and deep.
Because they contain dead
skin and flesh, they easily
become infected. If a sore
reaches the bone, which it
often does, the bone can also become infected.
Bone infections are often very hard (and costly)
to cure, may last for years, and may keep
coming back, even after the original pressure
sore has healed. (See “Bone Infections,”
Chapter 19.) Bone infections can lead to severe
disabling deformities.
shoulder
elbow
inside
of knees
Infections in deep pressure sores often
get into the blood and affect the whole body,
causing fever and general illness. This can lead
to death. In fact, pressure sores are one of the
main causes of death in persons with spinal
cord injury.
These pressure sores in a 15-year-old girl who
is quadriplegic were treated with honey and
sugar and healed in 2 months. (See p. 202.)
PROJIMO
In persons with high spinal cord injuries (quadriplegia) the irritation from pressure
sores can also bring about sudden severe headaches and high blood pressure
(dysreflexia, see p. 187), which can also cause death.
How common are pressure sores?
In persons who have lost feeling in parts of their body, pressure sores are very
common. Most spinal cord injured persons in rich countries, and nearly all in poor
countries, develop pressure sores. Often the sores start in hospitals shortly after the back
injury, due to inadequate nursing care. Therefore, it is important that families of spinal
cord injured persons, and the persons themselves, learn as early as possible about the
prevention and early treatment of pressure sores, and take all the needed steps.
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