Decubitus ulcers, also known as pressure ulcers or bed sores, are wounds that develop on dependent surfaces of the body in patients who undergo prolonged periods of immobility. These wounds develop on skin and subcutaneous tissue under longstanding pressure from deep bony structures as a result of maintaining one body position for long periods of time (Carville, 2018). Patients at risk of developing decubitus ulcers include paraplegic, comatose and orthopedic patients.

Common sites of pressure ulcers include the sacrococcygeal region, heels, hips, upper back and elbows(Black, 2015).

Pressure sores occur mainly due to compromised circulation in dependent tissues caused by pressure on tissues over bony surfaces, leading to ischemia. Shear forces due to friction between the body and other surfaces also lead to destruction of skin and other subcutaneous tissues (Elahad, McCarthy, Goverman, & Kaafarani,2018). Combination of these factors leads to development of an open wound with poor healing.