Our Skilled Tarrant County Podiatrists Explain How Bedsores Can Develop on Your Feet
Bedsores on the feet and ankles can develop on people who are not bedridden. The term ‘bedsores’ is used to describe pressure ulcers that form as a result of prolonged pressure on a particular area of skin. Patients with diabetes have an elevated risk of developing this type of skin condition, although anyone can develop bedsores on their feet or ankles, as well as elsewhere on the body. 
Bedsores are not minor wounds that likely heal on their own. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have a bedsore, it’s critical for you to see an experienced podiatrist right away. Here, the experienced foot doctors at Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists share information about bedsores on the feet, including how they form, common symptoms, and how this type of pressure sore is usually diagnosed and treated.
Factors That Cause Bedsores on the Feet or Ankles
Bedsores, also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers, are painful and serious injuries to the skin and underlying tissues. They often affect the feet and ankles, as well as other bony areas of the body. A number of factors can contribute to the development of this type of ankle or foot ulcer, including the following:
- Pressure. Sustained pressure on one part of the foot or ankle can reduce blood flow to the area, leading to tissue damage.
- Friction. Repeated friction from bedding, footwear, or other surfaces can damage skin on the feet or ankles and make it more susceptible to ulcers.
- Shear. A person experiences shear when the skin moves in one direction and the bone below that area moves in another direction. This can cause the blood vessels to stretch and tear, leading to a pressure sore.
Factors That Increase the Risk of Developing Bedsores
Bedsores on the feet or ankles don’t just affect people who have certain medical conditions; they can develop on the skin of anyone. Circumstances that elevate a person’s risk of pressure sores on their feet or ankles include the following:
- Medical conditions that impair blood flow, such as diabetes and vascular disease
- Neuropathy that impacts the feet or ankles
- Immobility or limited mobility, whether temporary or permanent
- Poor nutrition
- Incontinence
- Lack of proper hydration
- Advanced age
- Poor skin condition
Pressure Ulcer Symptoms Based on Wound Severity
The symptoms of bedsores on the feet or ankles vary depending on wound severity, which is divided into four different stages. The symptoms change as a pressure ulcer progresses from one stage of injury to the next:
- Stage 1. At this stage, the skin is red in appearance and doesn’t turn white when pressed. The skin may also be warm to the touch, swollen, and painful.
- Stage 2. In this stage, the wound is an open sore, blister, or shallow crater resulting from the loss of the top and middle layers (epidermis and dermis) of skin at the affected area.
- Stage 3. At this more advanced stage, the patient has full-thickness skin loss, with damage or even necrosis extending into the deepest layer of skin. The ulcer may appear as a deep crater. In some cases, the wound’s edges may be separated from the surrounding tissue.
- Stage 4. At this most advanced stage, there is full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, muscle, or tendon. The wound bed may contain dead skin cells or necrotic tissue in or adhered to the wound bed that is black, brown, gray, green, tan, or yellow in color.
Diagnosing Bedsores on the Feet
Anyone with a foot or ankle wound that could possibly be a pressure ulcer should see an experienced foot doctor right away. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial to promote healing and help prevent serious complications. If you live or work in the Tarrant County area of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, we encourage you to request an appointment with the experienced podiatrists at Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists today. The process of diagnosing bedsores on the feet usually includes the following:
- Medical history review. When you see a podiatrist about a foot or ankle wound, they will review your medical history, including identifying any underlying health conditions or past issues that may be relevant to your current problem.
- Clinical examination. The podiatrist will examine the feet and ankles for any signs of redness, swelling, blisters, open sores, or ulcers then feel the affected area to assess temperature, tenderness, and the presence of any hard or soft tissue changes.
- Determining the ulcer’s stage. If the wound is a bedsore, the podiatrist will determine its stage based on its depth and size and the appearance of the wound bed.
- Diagnostic tests. In some cases, additional diagnostic testing may be needed, such as a wound culture, blood tests, or imaging tests to check for infection, to determine if the infection has spread or to evaluate the extent of tissue damage.
How Podiatrists Treat Pressure Sores on the Feet
After completing the diagnostic process, your podiatrist will recommend a treatment plan based on your unique needs. If the examination indicates that your wound is a bedsore, your treatment will most likely start with cleaning the wound, applying topical antiseptic or antimicrobial treatments, and dressing the wound to keep it moist and protect against infection.
Pain relief or anti-inflammatory medications are often prescribed by podiatrists to patients with bedsores. If your pressure ulcer is severely infected, you may also need to take oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to close the wound or remove dead tissue.
Whatever course of treatment your foot doctor prescribes, it’s important for you to follow their instructions and monitor the wound so you’ll know if it’s healing or getting worse. You’ll also need to follow up with your podiatrist as scheduled in case your treatment needs to be updated along the way based on the way the wound is responding to therapy or any new findings.