What is a pressure injury?

Pressure injuries are caused by prolonged pressure and/or shear forces on skin and deep tissues – most commonly, in areas covering the bony parts of the body, such as the ischial tuberosities, trochanters, heels and elbows.

Pressure injuries can cause cell deformation, ischaemia and cell death – but not all pressure injuries are open wounds. Pressure injuries in deep tissues around joints may present as a hard lump, without skin breakdown.

Some pressure injuries can start from other innocuous causes such as pimples, rashes, scrapes, burns or bruises.

A pressure injury can develop quickly. 

If left untreated or poorly managed, a pressure injury can have catastrophic effects on a person’s quality of life, potentially resulting in a lengthy hospital stay and further disability, such as reduced mobility, deconditioning, increased dependence, surgery and infection or sepsis.

References

Pressure Injury Toolkit For Spinal Cord Injury and Spina Bifida
NSW Government and Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI)

Best practice for clinicians and management for pressure injury
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality on Hospital-acquired complication

Free pdf posters on pressure injury stages
National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP)

Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries
National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP)