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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffBedsores are usually unmistakable, even in the initial stages, but your doctor is likely to order blood tests to check your nutritional status and overall health. Depending on the circumstances, you may have other tests.
When you have a wound that doesn't improve, even with intensive treatment, or you have chronic pressure sores, your doctor may remove a small sample of tissue. The tissue may be cultured for unusual bacteria or fungi. The tissue may also be checked for cancer, which is a risk in people with long-standing wounds.
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- Pressure ulcers. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch126/ch126a.html. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
- Bluestein D. Pressure ulcers: Prevention, evaluation, and management. American Family Physician. 2008;78:1186.
- Abrams GM. Chronic complications of spinal cord injury. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Garcia AD. Assessment and management of chronic pressure ulcers in the elderly. The Medical Clinics of North America. 2006;90:928.
- Tleyjeh I. Infectious complications of pressure ulcers. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Berlowitz D. Treatment of pressure ulcers. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Berlowitz D. Prevention of pressure ulcers. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Reddy M. Treatment of pressure ulcers: A systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;300:2647.
- Phillips TJ, et al. Decubitus (pressure) ulcers. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2980481. Accessed Feb. 5, 2009.
- Wolff K, et al. Skin signs of vascular insufficiency. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Division; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=753150. Accessed Feb. 5, 2009.
- Johnston C, et al. Geriatric disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. In: Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment. Los Altos, Calif.: Lange Medical Publications; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=348. Accessed Feb. 5, 2009.
- Pressure ulcer stages revised by NPUAP. National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. http://www.npuap.org/pr2.htm. Accessed Feb. 16, 2009.
