pressure sore

Ulceration caused by continuous pressure on part of the body, particularly on a bony prominence such as the sacrum (the bone at the base of the spine) or the heel. It is aggravated by reduced blood supply to the area and local gangrene may develop. It is notoriously hard to treat.

Pressure sores may occur at any age but are particularly common in the frail elderly confined to bed for any length of time. They may develop within an hour of a vulnerable patient being left on a hard, unyielding hospital trolley. Nurses are concerned to prevent pressure sores by frequent turning of patients who are confined to bed.