Pressure ulcers, also known as
pressure sores,
bedsores and
decubitus ulcers, are localized injuries to the skin and/or underlying tissue that usually occur over a
bony prominence as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction. The most common sites are the skin overlying the
sacrum,
coccyx,
heels or the
hips, but other sites such as the
elbows,
knees,
ankles or the back of the
cranium can be affected.