Bed Sores (Decubitus Ulcers)

Nursing Home Negligence Attorney
Bed Sores, Pressure Sores, Decubitus Ulcers

Bed sores are a strong indication that a nursing home is not providing adequate care for its patients. A bed sore (also called a pressure sore or debubitus ulcer) is caused by constant pressure on the skin. If left untreated bed sores can become infected, cause severe tissue damage to bones and muscles, and even lead to death. If you notice bed sores, report the situation to Arizona Protective Services and contact the nursing home negligence lawyers at Knapp & Roberts.

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With proper care, bed sores can be prevented. Proper care includes good nutrition and timely turning and repositioning of the patient. The sores are caused by constant pressure on an area of the skin. The pressure is greatest on bony areas where there is little natural cushioning. Elderly people also have thinner skin, which increases the danger of pressure sores.

Often family members don't notice bed sores until they become painful and infected because they are located in areas generally covered by clothing or bed sheets.
Common places for pressure sores include the tailbone (coccyx), the spine, the buttocks, and the heels. They may also appear on the shoulders, elbows, ankles, and between the knees where the legs rub together.
As bed sores progress, they turn from a change in skin temperature and color, to an abrasion or blister, to infection and damage to muscles, bones, and tendons.
The nursing home should monitor all patients, especially those who are confined to a bed or a wheelchair, for signs of bed sores. Proper nutrition and repositioning are essential to prevention.

Bed sores cause pain, infection, tissue and bone damage, and wrongful death . If your loved one shows signs of pain or itching, if you notice the beginning of pressure sores, act quickly. Talk to the lawyers at our nursing home negligence law firm.

Bed sores are typically referenced by medical staff in the resident’s records as Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, or Stage 4 (the worst).

Stage 1

Pressure ulcer is an observable pressure-related alteration of the intact skin whose indicators as compared to an adjacent or opposite area on the body may include changes in one or more of the following: skin temperature(warmth or coolness), tissue consistency (firm or boggy feel), and/or sensation (pain, itching). The ulcer appears as a defined area of persistent redness in lightly pigmented skin, whereas in darker skin tones, the ulcer may appear with persistent red, blue, or purple hues.

Stage 2

Partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis, dermis, or both. The ulcer is superficial and presents clinically as an abrasion, blister, or shallow crater.

Stage 3

Full thickness skin loss involving damage to, or necrosis of, subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia. The ulcer presents clinically as a deep crater with or without undermining the adjacent tissue.

Stage 4

Full thickness skin loss with extensive destruction, tissue necrosis, or damage to muscle, bone, or supporting structures (e.g., tendon, joint, capsule). Undermining and sinus tracts also may be associated with Stage IV pressure ulcers.

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