If untreated, a pressure sore can progress from a small irritated but unbroken skin patch to a potentially life-threatening wound involving extensive tissue death and infection. Treatment of the serious decubitus ulcer may include drying out the wound, debriding (excising) the dead tissue, and administering systemic antibiotics.
Review Date: 7/18/2007
Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.