Pressure Injuries

A pressure injury is an injury that occurs to the skin and the underlying tissue due to prolonged or intense pressure to the area. Typically occurs over bony prominences. It can also be caused by pressure from a medical device. This impairs blood flow to the area. This leads to inadequate perfusion and oxygenation of the cells in that area and eventually leads to cell death. Risk factors that place a patient at risk for pressure injuries include impaired nutrition, reduced sensation (neuropathy), excess moisture which can occur due to things like incontinence, immobility, impaired oxygenation, and friction/ shear forces. Always assess for skin breakdown using a risk assessment scale such as the Braden Scale. A patient who has a score of 14 or less with the Norton scale or 18 or less on the Braden scale has an increased risk for skin breakdown. Take special precautions to protect the patient’s skin for breakdown.