Due to prolonged squeezing or immobility, sores may form on the soft parts of the body. How to treat such a disease on the buttock? It turns out that you can not only treat ulcers, but also prevent the occurrence of dead skin and subcutaneous tissues. Most often, this problem bothers bedridden patients.
What causes
Regardless of what triggered the appearance of a bedsore, such violations should not be ignored. It is important to note that this pathological phenomenon never occurs on its own, as it is always a complication of the primary disease that led to the patient being immobilized.
The treatment of pressure sores on the buttocks is the fight against specific ulcers, redness and serious skin irritations. Such pathological changes are mainly diagnosed in the elderly or in patients after a stroke, spinal injury and other diseases.
The reason for the development of a pressure sore is a forced lying position, which is accompanied by the inevitable compression of certain areas of the skin. Bedsores develop especially quickly in patients with overweight and diabetes. For such persons, often 2-3 hours are enough for the first signs of the disease to appear on the buttocks. How to treat a pressure sore in such an intimate place? There are no fundamental differences from the methods of treatment of ulcers in any other part of the body.
How is a pressure sore formed?
Due to the constant load on the epidermis, small blood capillaries cease to perform their functions at the proper level. As a result, trophic tissue is disrupted, and then ulcers begin to develop. Treatment of pressure sores on the buttocks of immobilized people is very difficult, but the need for therapy cannot be ignored.
With a constant and unchanged position of the body, the patient's condition is aggravated by injuries of the brain or spinal cord. The skin and soft tissues are constantly suffering from surges in blood pressure indicators, the autonomic nervous system ceases to function fully.
Interestingly, in the buttock area, not only blood circulation is disturbed, but also innervation. With a combination of these two phenomena, the patient's condition worsens and new ulcerations form. The main method by which to deal with pressure sores on the buttocks, however paradoxical it may sound, is to return to physical activity.
Who is at risk
Overweight patients are more likely to suffer from pressure sores. In people with normal weight, the development of ulcers does not occur so rapidly, however, if it is impossible to ensure proper care, the disease is inevitable. The faster treatment is started, the more likely the patient to maintain the integrity of the epidermis and avoid the development of serious complications.
Ulcers occur in patients with weakened immunity after a long illness, among them cardiological patients, people who have suffered a stroke and other circulatory disorders. Doctors believe that the following factors contribute to the complication of diseases with the occurrence of pressure sores:
- old age of the patient;
- pathology of the brain and spinal cord;
- injuries, postoperative wounds, multiple bruises, bone fractures;
- cancerous tumors;
- moderate to high anemia;
- alcohol abuse and smoking;
- improperly selected diet;
- puffiness and increased dryness of the skin;
- inability to control urination and bowel movements;
- allergy to care products.
Treatment of the disease at different stages
Before treating pressure sores on the buttocks, it is important to accurately determine the stage of the disease. Regardless of the localization of ulcers on the body, they go through several stages. First, the surface layer of the epidermis is damaged in the patient, the tissue segment on the buttock swells, becomes more dense. Hyperemia of the affected area becomes noticeable. If, when pressed on a healthy area, the skin becomes pale, then when exposed to pressure sores, changes do not occur, it remains red. At this stage, treating a pressure sore on the buttock is usually easier than subsequent ones.
In the second stage of the disease, the first ulceration is formed. The pathological process includes not only the surface layers, but also subcutaneous fat. At the next stage of the development of pressure sores, partial tissue necrosis occurs. The fourth stage is the most dangerous, since it is characterized by damage to not only soft tissues. Without proper treatment, the process reaches the cartilage and bones.
The bedsore bedsore pointless to treat with antiseptic dressings in the fourth stage. In this case, only surgery can become an effective method of therapy. Otherwise, the risk of developing sepsis increases with the addition of a secondary infection, which dramatically complicates the course of the disease.
Conservative therapy in the first stage
How to treat pressure sores on the buttocks with conservative methods? Therapy takes place in several stages. First, dead tissue (if any) is eliminated, and only then are medicines used that have a disinfecting and healing effect that improve blood circulation to the muscles and epidermis. In this case, the choice of drugs depends largely on the stage of the course of the disease.
If bedsores under the buttocks or on the sacrum have just begun to appear, the skin needs to be treated with antiseptic solutions several times a day. The most common and inexpensive means is camphor alcohol, which is sold in any pharmacy. An alternative to it is natural sea buckthorn oil. The skin should be treated carefully, gently and very gently, without exerting pressure on the affected area.
Drugs for bedsores of the second stage
It is important to remember that in the presence of pressure sores, massage is not allowed. At the next stage, the patient becomes noticeable ulcers and small blisters. At this stage, you can deal with pressure sores with the help of Miramistin, Chlorhexidine or other, more powerful antiseptics. Treatment solutions are applied to the skin several times a day.
If there are ulcers, dressings with Actovegin or Solcoseryl will become an effective treatment option. These ointments have wound healing properties, they trigger tissue regeneration processes. On the recommendation of a doctor, patients can be prescribed absorbent applications with enzyme preparations. “Multiferm” and “Gidrosorb” do their job perfectly - dressings that are applied to the affected areas once and do not require regular replacement.
Advanced treatment options
Pressure ulcers on the buttocks of bedridden patients cannot be cured at home. The patient is determined in the surgical department. At this stage of the development of pathology, deep wounds form, in which the usual medicines for bedsores will not help. On the buttocks, the dead tissue areas are first removed, the wounds themselves are treated with powerful antiseptics and covered with a bandage. Unlike superficial ulcers, deep bedsores are treated with special dressings “PAM-T”, “Proteox-TM”. Such wipes not only thoroughly clean the ulcers, but also contribute to the speedy healing due to the content of active active ingredients in them.
To stop tissue necrosis, special absorbent gels are used, in particular Purilon. Such drugs are applied immediately after surgical cleaning of the wound. Gel-like products absorb excess fluid, which creates ideal conditions for healing. Dressings with Purilon are changed every 3-4 days.
Additional methods
What to do in each individual case and how to quickly cure pressure sores on the buttocks, the doctor decides. For effective treatment, not only the use of local preparations for the regeneration of soft tissues, but also systemic drugs is implied. Such drugs activate blood flow to the affected area. With deep bedsores on the buttocks, patients are prescribed tablets or injections of Actovegin, Pentoxifylline. If necessary, the therapy is supplemented with the use of immunomodulators designed to strengthen local immunity.
As they recover and improve their well-being, patients are prescribed vitamin-mineral complexes. To avoid the occurrence of side effects, the age and weight of the person must be taken into account.
In order to stimulate the regeneration of the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues, they often resort to physiotherapeutic procedures. A good effect, according to patients, is able to produce a laser, Darsonval - therapy and ultra-high frequency inductothermy. To reduce the risk of infection, the wounds are treated with ultrasound and electrophoresis based on solutions with antibiotics is used.
With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment at the third and fourth stages, surgical manipulation is required. After the doctor heals the wound, he tries to combine its edges. The procedure usually takes place using an autograft - a section of a healthy epidermis seized from a patient. To date, such treatment does not always bring the desired result. Often, skin rejection occurs due to the inability to achieve absolute sterility of ulcers and prevent the development of infection. Tissue transplantation is repeated according to the same principle.
Do I need a special mattress for bed patients
In the treatment and prevention of the formation of pressure sores, the surface on which the patient has to lie plays a huge role. In order to prevent the appearance of ulcers on the patient's body, care should be taken in advance to acquire a special mattress for bed patients. From bedsores, such medical devices are used not only for the purpose of prevention, but also in the treatment of existing pressure ulcers of the initial stages.
Thanks to the mattress, it is possible to prevent the appearance of ulcers in patients not only in the sacro-gluteal region, but also in the other most common areas of localization. Places of formation of pressure sores are:
- occiput;
- shoulder blades;
- heels.
If the patient for a long time lies on his side, dystrophy of the shoulder tissue, knee, ankle joint, and femur is possible. The mattress helps to evenly distribute the load on the body and alleviate the patient’s condition, provide comfort and muscle relaxation.
Types of mattresses
In the treatment and prevention of pressure sores, cellular and balloon models of orthopedic mattresses from bedsores for bedridden patients are in special demand. Products differ in two main criteria:
- by degree of mobility under the patient;
- in the form of compartments.
For patients who are able to roll over without assistance, static models are more suitable. Such a mattress takes an anatomically correct shape, adapting to the human body. Special cells have a therapeutic and prophylactic effect, preventing tissue from being squeezed. The advantages of such models include the low price, simple operation and maintenance.
Unlike static options, dynamic ones are able to change height and rise, creating conditions for activation of blood circulation processes by maintaining variable pressure in the mattress. This type of product is intended for bedridden people who are not able to roll over on their own.
Tubular mattresses (balloon) are made from long chambers. Included with the balloon mattress is a special compress that pumps air from the chambers every 10 minutes and alternately fills the compartments. Tubular mattresses are suitable for obese people whose body weight exceeds 120 kg.
The cellular structures in appearance resemble a honeycomb. When the compressor is operating, air is alternately supplied to the cells. The compartments are not filled evenly, but in a checkerboard pattern. Cellular mattresses are recommended for patients who do not get out of bed for more than 3 months.
Mattresses are suitable for the treatment of pressure sores on the buttocks at home or in the walls of a specialized inpatient medical facility. The materials from which they are made are hypoallergenic and moisture resistant. Most often, products are made of polyurethane foam and polyvinyl chloride, so they are easy to wash and quickly dried, which is especially important when used by a patient who is unable to control urination and defecation. The most popular manufacturers of orthopedic mattresses for bedridden patients are the companies:
- Invacare (U.S.);
- Redactron (Holland);
- Eurocare (Belgium);
- Bronigen (Germany);
- OSD (Italy);
- Armed (Russia).
Prevention
The prevention and treatment of pressure sores on the buttocks at home requires considerable effort from a person who has taken responsibility for the care and maintenance of a bed patient. At the same time, the recommendations that doctors give for the prevention of ulceration are quite simple:
- Change the patient’s position at least every two hours.
- If ulcers have not yet formed on the skin of the patient, you should regularly do a light massage of those parts of the body that are most prone to the appearance of pressure sores.
- You need to examine the patient every day in order to start treatment on time at the first sign of the disease.
- A weekly change of bed linen is required. If a person is not able to control the operation of the pelvic organs, the bed is changed as necessary.
For bed patients it is important to choose the right bedding. The sheet should be sewn only from natural fabrics and matched exclusively to the size of the mattress. Before laying the patient on the bed, it is necessary to straighten all the folds.
If pressure sores appear, you need to urgently review the patient's diet. Despite the fact that there is no specific diet for skin ulcers, all expert advice comes down to the need to consume increased amounts of protein. The patient’s daily menu should include chicken, turkey, rabbit, fish, low-fat sour-milk products. If the patient is not able to chew fibrous dishes on his own, he is fed with pureed nutritious mixtures.
It is important to think about the prevention of pressure sores on the buttocks from the first days in bed. It is quite difficult to stop the formation of ulcers on the body, but with all the recommendations and constant monitoring of the patient's condition, there is every chance to avoid such problems.