Pressure ulcers are caused by a combination of:
- Pressure, normal body weight can squash the skin in people at risk and damage blood supply to the area which can lead to tissue damage;
- Shearing, strain forces the skin and upper layers away from the deeper layers of the skin. This can happen when a person slides down, or is dragged up,
a bed or a chair;
- Friction, poor lifting and moving techniques can remove the top layers of the skin. Repeated friction can increase the risk of pressure ulcers.
The NICE guidance on the management of pressure ulcers identifies the following groups who are especially at risk of developing pressure ulcers:
- those who are seriously ill;
- those who are neurologically compromised (individuals with spinal cord injuries);
- those who have impaired mobility or who are immobile (including those wearing a prosthesis, body brace or plaster cast);
- those who suffer from impaired nutrition;
- those who suffer from obesity;
- those who have poor posture;
- those who use equipment such as seating or beds which do not provide appropriate pressure relief.
The guidance states that older people and pregnant women are also at risk.
