Common Pressure Ulcer Sites

Pressure ulcers occur on areas of the body that experience the most bearable pressure, friction and/or shearing conditions. Paralyzed and bed bound patients are at the highest risk of developing pressure ulcers (Adams, 2010). Patients that are confined to wheelchairs wil most frequently experience pressure ulcers on the body where their wheelchairs tend to cause the most constant pressure which are the arms, back,and shoulders due to friction of the chair and pressing on the wheelchair as they roll (Adams, 2010).

The hips, tailbone, and buttocks are other areas that are at risk of developing pressure ulcers for chair and bed bound patients because of decreased sensation below the waist and the inability to shift positions (Adams, 2010). For bed bound patients the head and ears are common sites for pressure ulcers. For the wheelchair bound patient the legs, ankles, knees, and heels are also at risk of developing pressure ulcers because their legs resting up against the lower portion of the wheelchair for extended periods of time (Adams, 2010). The bed bound patient is also at risk of developing pressure ulcers in these areas due to friction and shearing for sliding in the bed to change position's (Adams, 2010).

Reference:

Adams, A. (2010). Common sites of pressure ulcers. Retrieved from http://livestrong.com/article/125638-common-sites-pressure-ulcers/

Common Pressure Ulcer Sites Diagrams