Staff Ed: Common Sites for Pressure Injuries
Pressure Injuries: Common Sites
Bony prominences are the areas of bone that are close to the skin's surface. These areas are most susceptible to pressure injuries because they have the least amount of cushioning. Which pressure points are vulnerable for a particular patient depend on the position in which most of that patient’s time is spent. Also check for pressure injuries on the skin over implanted medical devices, such as pacemakers.
Pressure points to remember
On the back |
Sitting |
On the side |
Updated:  
March 14, 2018
Sources:  
Hamada, M., Pressure cutaneous ulcer over a pacemaker successfully treated with left subcostal transplantation in an extremely thin patient, The Journal of Dermatology (2006); 33(8); 567-570., Swartout-Corbeil, DM., The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health (2013); 3;2753-2756., Zeller, J., Pressure Ulcers, Journal of the American Medical Association (2006) 296(8); pp 1020
Reviewed By:  
Freeborn, Donna, PhD, CNM, FNP,Hurd, Robert, MD