1812
A specific type of bed sore.
Also referred to as pressure sore, pressure ulcer or decubitus ulcer, that is characterized by rapid onset and rapid tissue breakdown.
Believed to develop due to poor blood circulation that results from unrelieved pressure.
Differ from other bed sores because of: Rapid onset, the wounds tend to grow downward, as opposed to horizontally, the wounds are most often located on the sacrum, almost exclusive occur in the elderly population.
Kennedy terminal ulcer can develop in areas which include the sacrum, coccygeal area, heels, posterior calf muscles, arms and elbows.
The lesions are most often butterfly shaped but maybe pear shaped, horseshoe-shaped or sometimes irregular with red / yellow / black highlights that look similar to an abrasion or blister.
The ulcer may degenerate rapidly with evidence of deep tissue injury and ultimate darken with metamorphosis into stage II, stage Iii, and stage IV ulcer occurring within 24 hours or up to 5 days.
The wound may go from a blister to stage 4 within hours
Wounds are usually irregularly shaped, and frequently described as pear shaped.
Death occurs quickly as many patients succumb to Kennedy ulcers within 24-48 hours.