When a person sits or lies in the same position for too long, they can develop bedsores (also called pressure ulcers). They’re often seen in hospitals and nursing homes, but anyone who’s immobile for any period can experience them.
Bedsores are painful and go through four distinct stages that can cause serious complications and permanent damage. Continue reading to learn more about the stages of bedsores and how to identify them.
Stage One
The first stage of bedsores can appear deceptively minor, but it’s actually a major warning sign (and often the first hint) that the patient isn’t being properly cared for. The skin looks red or discolored and often feels warm to the touch. Unlike a typical bruise or temporary mark, the color doesn’t go away when you press on it and then release the pressure.
It can be hard to see the redness on people with darker skin. Instead, the area might look purple, blue, or unusually dark compared to the skin around it. The spot often feels different, too. It might be warmer, cooler, firmer, or softer than normal.
Stage one bedsores tend to be painful and tender when they’re touched. The person might complain that the area hurts, burns, or itches. The skin is still intact at this point, but the damage is already happening under the surface.
Stage Two
Stage two sores involve actual breaks in the skin that create open wounds. The top layer of skin gets damaged or worn away, creating what looks like a broken blister, scrape, or shallow crater. The area around it tends to stay red or swollen, and you might notice clear fluid or pus leaking from the opening. That’s a sign the body is trying to fight off an infection.
Stage Three
Stage three involves much deeper wounds that go beyond the skin layers. These sores look like craters or deep holes that go down into the fat tissue, and you can actually see or feel how deep they go.
The injury can appear yellow or green, especially if infection has set in. Dead tissue often builds up in the crater and needs to be removed by medical professionals. At this stage, the damage affects the nerves in the area, so some people may feel less pain than they did in the earlier stages.
Stage Four
Stage four bedsores represent the most serious level of damage, where the injury extends down into the muscle, bone, and even tendons and joints. These are extremely deep wounds that can be life-threatening if they get infected.
The injury can be so deep that you may see bone or muscle tissue at the bottom. Sometimes the opening of the skin surface looks smaller than the actual damage underneath, which means there are tunnels or pockets of damaged tissue that can’t be seen from the outside.
Dead tissue and debris often fill these deep wounds, creating an environment where dangerous bacteria thrive and grow. The surrounding tissue frequently turns black or dark brown as it dies.
The Progression of Neglect
Unlike a broken bone that occurs in a single event, bedsores can progress through four stages, creating a clear timeline of inadequate care or outright negligent treatment of the patient. As each stage develops, it’s another missed opportunity to provide the proper treatment and repositioning that the patient needs to stay healthy and happy.
Bedsores are 100% preventable with the right care. When they show up in care facilities, the medical complications and suffering stem from failures in patient monitoring and care standards.
Contact the Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for Help Today
If a loved one has been injured by bedsores in a nursing home, please contact the experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today. We offer free consultations.
We proudly serve Cook County, Will County, Kendall County, and its surrounding areas:
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
10 S La Salle St STE 1230, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone:(312) 726-1616
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Chicago
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Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Joliet Office
195 Springfield Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: (815) 726-1616
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Joliet
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