Update in the Surgical Management of Decubitus Ulcers

Abstract

Decubitus ulcers remain a common and recurring problem amongst overly ill patients, especially those who are bed-bound. They are caused by unrelieved pressure over tissues, mainly over bony prominences, such as the trochanteric, ischial, and sacral areas, and are classified from stage I to IV. Many forms of management have been described, with prevention being the most important of them. For stages I and II a conservative, non-surgical approach can be used, compared to stages III and IV which normally require surgical management. Post-operative care has also been shown to play a major role in avoiding the high rate of recurrences. Because of their location, high recurrence rates and increase in mortality, pressure sores continue to be a challenge for the medical and nursing staff, and are extremely costly to treat. In this manuscript we review the literature to expose the latest non-surgical and surgical techniques for the management of Decubitus Ulcers.