September 12, 2025 | Nursing Home Abuse
A pressure ulcer is also known as a bedsore or decubitus ulcer. It’s a wound that occurs when there’s prolonged pressure placed on your skin. People who are bed-bound or those who spend hours in wheelchairs are most at risk of developing these injuries. Pressure ulcers can lead to death because of the risk of infections, especially as the injury progresses. But what causes pressure ulcers? Learn more about them and what your legal rights to pursue a personal injury claim may be.
Understanding Pressure Ulcers
Bedsores happen too often because of medical malpractice or nursing home abuse. When caregivers do not move patients at regular intervals, the pressure against their skin can start to wear the layer of epidermis down. There are other factors that can also make the bedsore worse, including shear, which occurs when the body shifts down in the bed, but some part of the skin doesn’t, stretching the skin. Additionally, moisture of any kind can further weaken the skin’s protective barrier and lead to bedsores.
Stages of Pressure Ulcers
The first stage of the bedsore typically begins with feeling sore in the impacted area. You may experience burning or itching, as well as notice that your skin is a bit redder than normal. There is no break in the top layer at this stage, though. As the ulcer progresses, the skin can begin to blister. There will be a small opening now, which will show a bit of the pink layer of tissue beneath the epidermis. You can experience more pain at this stage. If you notice red swelling around the wound, you could already have some tissue death. In the third stage, there is a larger and more noticeable wound that cuts into your top layer of fat. It doesn’t, however, reach your muscles, tendons, or bones. The pain can be severe now, and the risk of developing an infection is much higher. During the fourth stage of a pressure ulcer, your bone might be impacted. There will typically be black, dead tissue around the wound, and it’s common for there to be a foul smell.
Can Bedsores Kill You?
All too often, people with severe pressure ulcers die from infections. Pressure ulcer mortality rates tend to surprise people because the type of injury seems minor. In 2021, 37,033 people died worldwide because of these wounds. Bedsore complications are common, with the most frequent being infections. You can develop septicemia, which is a bacterial infection that can lead to sepsis. Some people develop bone or joint infections and, in the worst cases, could suffer from a flesh-eating disease called necrotizing fasciitis. Aside from the physical issues that a pressure ulcer can cause, you can suffer emotional trauma, too. People who experience these kinds of serious injuries can develop depression or anxiety, which lowers their quality of life.
Contact Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, Today for a Free Consultation With Our Lexington Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Most of the time, bedsores are the result of negligence. Medical professionals in Lexington, KY, who fail to prevent or treat the wound can be held accountable for your losses. This isn’t easy to do, however, since you must show that another medical professional would not have made that same error. Hiring a Lexington personal injury lawyer to assist you through this process allows you to pursue compensation without needing to worry about the legalities involved. You have enough to stress over. With the right representation, you can fight for justice and accountability. Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, can help you understand your legal options for pursuing compensation. Our Lexington nursing home abuse lawyers are available for a free consultation. Call today.
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