1. Decubitus ulcer is the medical terminology for what is commonly known as a bed-sore.

2. Before 2007, I had heard the term bedsore, but I did not believe it was a term that would ever affect me, so I did not know anything about it. I was wrong.

3. Goals for today What is a Decubitus ulcer? What causes them? What can result from them?

4. http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.co m/A-Ce/Bedsores.html “Bedsores, also called decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers, or pressure sores, begin as tender, inflamed patches that develop when a person's weight rests against a hard surface, exerting pressure on the skin and soft tissue over bony parts of the body.”

5. http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu/show. asp?durki=21486

6. T his drawing was found on: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007071.htm

7. This drawing shows the four stages of a Decubitus ulcer. This drawing where found on: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007071.htm

8. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch126/ch126a.html Norton Scale Physical Condition Mental Condition ActivityMobilityIncontinentTotal Score Good (4)Alert (4)Ambulant (4)Full (4)Not (4) Fair (3)Apathetic (3)Work/help (3) Slightly Limited (3) Occasional (3) Poor (2)Confused (2)Chair bound (2) Very Limited (2) Usually/ Urine (2) Very Bad (1)Stupor (1) Immobile (1)Doubly (1)

9. First, The patient is not getting the proper circulation or oxygen to areas on his or her body that are under constant pressure. States laws require hospitals to ensure that a patient is turned every two hours since a Decubitus ulcer can begin forming in two hours.

10. Second, The patient is not being bathed properly.

11. Lastly, The patient is malnourished. “Poor nutritional status or dehydration can weaken the skin and make people more vulnerable to developing pressure ulcers.” http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003216.ht ml

12. Finally, I am going to explain the consequents of Decubitus ulcer.

13. THE DEAD TISSUE IN AND AROUND THE AREA HAS TO BE REMOVED. First:

14. Second: Decubitus ulcers can lead to amputation.

15. Third and worse case, possibility of death as happened with Superman, Christopher Reeves. http://www.chrisreevehomepage.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6223386/

16. http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/A- Ce/Bedsores.html 60,000 Thousand deaths a year result from Decubitus ulcers.

17. As I have explained, there are many scary facts about Decubitus ulcers. You now know, what Decubitus ulcers are, how someone develops them, and the dire affects they can have on a person.

18. Decubitus ulcers are unnecessary and can be very painful to experience or to watch a loved one experience. I hope the information I have given you today spares you that.

19. http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/A- Ce/Bedsores.html 10% of all hospital patients 25% of nursing home residents 60% of quadriplegics