Pressure ulcers

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are one of the largest dilemmas facing long-term care providers and clinicians who care for geriatric patients. Two-thirds of pressure sores occur in patients older than 70 years of age [1]. Pressure ulcer prevalence is estimated to be around 15% in acute care, up to 28% in long-term care and up to 29% in home care [2]. Pressure ulcers account for $2.2'3.6 billion/year in expenditures [3], can cost up to $70,000 to treat [4] and kill 60,000 people in the US every year [5]. Patients inclined to pressure ulcers are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality with infection, osteomyelitis and sepsis being the most common major complications. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2008.