Types of Bed Sores

Bedsores are skin injuries which develop due to pressure from laying or sitting in one place for an extended period of time without being moved. Bedsores affect elderly patients with mobility problems and can become serious or even life-threatening conditions.

If you see bedsores on an elderly loved one who is in a nursing home or care environment, you will want to contact a nursing home abuse and negligence attorney in Hollywood or your community. Bedsores are often a sign of negligence and you will want to take action before they can become infected and potentially life-threatening. To speak to a Hollywood nursing home abuse and negligence attorney, contact Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626. Your first consultation with our law firm is free and comes with no obligation.

Types of Bedsores

Bedsores are not all alike. They are classified by type, based on severity:

• Stage I bedsores are the least severe. These injuries involve a sore which forms on the skin but which has not broken. It is important to get treatment at this stage to prevent the injury from getting worse.
• Stage II bedsores are an open wound because the outer layer or layers of skin have been eroded away. The wound is shallow but may be an angry red or pink. Immediate treatment is needed.
• Stage III bedsores involve skin loss and the wound will be deep. In fact, these bedsores are sometimes deep enough to show fat. The inside of the sore may be yellow and there may be evidence of dead tissue. There may be an odor present. This type of bedsore is a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical intervention and monitoring. Surgery may be needed and patients will need to be monitored for signs of sepsis and serious complications.
• Stage IV bedsores are very deep and will involve the loss of tissue, fat, tendon, or muscle. In severe cases, tendons, bone, or muscle can be seen through the sore and dead tissue will appear around the wound. This is a medical emergency and will usually result in the loss of significant amounts of tissue around the wound as surgeons attempt to save as much of the limb as possible.

It is important that nursing home staff in Hollywood or South Florida address bedsores when they are still in early stages and can be easily treated. When bedsores are allowed to get worse, they're more likely to cause significant pain and complications.

Bedsores of any kind should be properly treated and monitored to ensure they cannot get worse. Bedsores are always preventable with a few precautions such as:

• Cleaning existing bedsores
• Proper wound care
• Repositioning residents regularly
• Encouraging some motion if possible
• Offering support rests or pillows as needed

If an elderly loved one has been injured with bedsores in a nursing home, contact a Flaxman Law Group online or at 866-352-9626 to speak to a nursing home abuse and negligence attorney in Hollywood, Homestead, Miami, or your community. Your initial consultation with us is free of charge and comes with no obligation.

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