Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Clinical Picture

  • Chapter
The Decubitus Ulcer in Clinical Practice

  • 122 Accesses

Abstract

The decubitus spectrum extends from an innocent-appearing reddened cutaneous area to a catastrophic ulcer that involves destruction of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone [1]. Whether the lesion is referred to as a decubitus ulcer, pressure sore, bedsore, or even euphemistically as a torsion stress injury, it is evidence that a significant interruption in the integrity of the skin has occurred [2].

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yarkony GM (1994) Pressure ulcers: a review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 75:908–917

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Parish LC, Witkowski JA, Millikan LE (1988) Cutaneous torsion stress alias the decubitus ulcer: a felony. Int J Dermatol 27:375–376

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Witkowski JA, Parish LC (1992) Diagnosis and management of pressure ulcers. In: Moschella S, Hurley HJ (eds) Dermatology. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 2237–2250

    Google Scholar 

  4. Parish LC, Witkowski JA (1989) The infected decubitus ulcer. Int J Dermatol 28:643–647

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Parish LC, Witkowski JA (1994) Chronic wounds: myths about decubitus ulcers. Int J Dermatol 33:623–624

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Witkowski JA, Parish LC (1993) Skin failure and the pressure ulcer. Decubitus 6(5):4

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Mawson AR, Siddiqui FH, Biundo JJ Jr (1993) Enhancing host resistance to pressure ulcers: a new approach to prevention. Prev Med 22:433–450

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ditunno JF Jr, Formal CS (1994) Chronic spinal cord injury. N Engl J Med 330:550–556

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. De Conno F, Ventafridda V, Saita L (1991) Skin problems in advanced and terminal cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 6:247–256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Spoelhof GD, Ide K (1993) Pressure ulcers in nursing home patients. Am Fam Physician 47:1207–1215

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Steward TP, Magnano S J (1988) Burns or pressure ulcers in the surgical patient? Decubitus 1:36–40

    Google Scholar 

  12. Papantonio CT, Wallop JM, Kolodner KB (1994) Sacral ulcers following cardiac surgery: incidence and risks. Adv Wound Care 7:24–36

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kemp MG, Keithley JK, Smith DW, Morreal B (1990) Factors that contribute to pressure ulcer in surgical patients. Res Nursing Health 13:293–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Calvin M (1995) Thermal burns in the elderly: classification and pathophysiology. J Geriatr Dermatol 3:149–157

    Google Scholar 

  15. Versluysen M (1986) How elderly patients with femoral fracture develop pressure ulcer in hospital. BMJ 292:1311–1313

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Teasell R, Dittmer DK (1993) Complications of immobilization and bed rest. Part 2: other complications. Can Fam Physician 39:1440–1442, 1445–1446

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Parish LC, Witkowski JA (1980) Clinitron therapy and the decubitus ulcer: preliminary dermatologic studies. Int J Dermatol 19:517–518

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pase MN (1994) Pressure relief devices, risk factors, and development of pressure ulcers in elderly patients with limited mobility. Adv Wound Care 7:38–42

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Parish LC, Witkowksi JA, Crissey JT (1989) Unusual aspects of the decubitus ulcer. Decubitus 1:22–24

    Google Scholar 

  20. Arndt KA, Mihm MC, Parrish JA (1973) Bullae: a cutaneous sign of a variety of neurologic diseases. J Invest Dermatol 60:312–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Parish LC, Witkowski JA (1990) Leg ulcers due to miscellaneous causes. Clin Dermatol 8(3,4):150–156

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lyell A (1979) Cutaneous artifactual disease. J Am Acad Dermatol 1:391–407

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Grotting JC, Bunkis J, Vasconzez LO (1987) Pressure sore carcinoma. Ann Plast Surg 18:527–532

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Shibuya H, Terashi H, Kurata S et al. (1994) Gas gangrene following sacral pressure sores. J Dermatol 21:518–523

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Muburak SJ, Owen CA, Hargens AR et al. (1978) Acute compartment syndromes: diagnosis and treatment with the aid of the wick catheter. J Bone Joint Surg 60:1091–1095

    Google Scholar 

  26. Darouiche RO, Landon GC, Klima M, Musher DM, Markowski J (1994) Osteomyelitis associated with pressure sores (see comments). Arch Intern Med 154:753–758

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Lawrence Charles Parish M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology)

  2. Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Lawrence Charles Parish M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology)

  3. Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. 1819 J.F. Kennedy Boulevard, #465, 19103, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lawrence Charles Parish M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology)

  4. School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3501 Ryan Avenue, 19136, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Joseph A. Witkowski M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology)

  5. Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 3501 Ryan Avenue, 19136, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Joseph A. Witkowski M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology)

  6. University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, 608 Sierra Madre Boulevard, 91108, San Marino, CA, USA

    John Thorne Crissey M.D. (Clinical Professor of Medicine (Dermatology)

Authors
  1. Lawrence Charles Parish M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph A. Witkowski M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John Thorne Crissey M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Lawrence Charles Parish M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology) (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology)

  2. Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Lawrence Charles Parish M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology) (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology)

  3. Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. 1819 J.F. Kennedy Boulevard, #465, 19103, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lawrence Charles Parish M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology) (Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology and Director of the Jefferson Center for International Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology, Visiting Professor of Dermatology and Venoreology)

  4. School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3501 Ryan Avenue, 19136, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Joseph A. Witkowski M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology) (Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology)

  5. Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 3501 Ryan Avenue, 19136, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Joseph A. Witkowski M.D. (Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology) (Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology)

  6. University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, 608 Sierra Madre Boulevard, 91108, San Marino, CA, USA

    John Thorne Crissey M.D. (Clinical Professor of Medicine (Dermatology) (Clinical Professor of Medicine (Dermatology)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Parish, L.C., Witkowski, J.A., Crissey, J.T. (1997). Clinical Picture. In: Parish, L.C., Witkowski, J.A., Crissey, J.T. (eds) The Decubitus Ulcer in Clinical Practice. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60509-3_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60509-3_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64436-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-60509-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation