At stage IV, the pressure ulcer has become so deep that there is damage to the muscle and bone, and sometimes to tendons and joints.
It’s the worst of the four stages. Stage I is the mildest stage; stage IV is the worst.
This is not a wound managed at home. Stage III and IV sores are harder to treat and may take a long time to heal, and most stage III and IV sores will be treated by your provider. Ask about any special instructions for home care.
Unlike stages I and II, there’s no home cleaning or dressing routine for stage IV, and Wound Wizard won’t offer one.
Bone matters for a reason. Bone infection is one of the reasons wounds may not heal well, and chronic bone infection is among the causes of non-healing foot ulcers treated at wound care centers.
What stays the same at every stage is the pressure. Reposition about every 2 hours in bed and every 15 minutes in a wheelchair. Use pillows, foam cushions, booties or mattress pads, chosen with a provider to suit the wound and the setting. No donut-shaped or ring-shaped cushions. No massage near or on the ulcer.
And the daily look: check your skin for pressure sores every day, and ask your caregiver or someone you trust to check areas you can’t see. A stage IV sore in one place doesn’t stop another forming somewhere else.