Stage Four Pressure Sores: Indication of Inattentive Care
Despite the perception that pressure sores, also known as bedsores, shouldn’t be a common problem in urban areas, pressure sore lawsuit filings in large, modern cities– such as Chicago— are more common than you may think. Do not allow yourself to be misled if a facility or caregiver insists that the development of pressure sores is just an inevitable fact of life and growing old. The truth of the matter is that pressure sores develop very slowly over time and the presence of stage four pressure sores is usually the result of inattentive caregivers over a long-term period.
Treatment of Early Stage Pressure Sores Necessary to Prevent Complications Down the Road
To understand the severity of neglect that is required in order to allow an elderly patient to develop stage four pressure sores, we need to understand how pressure sores develop and how they can be prevented or treated in their early stages. When a patient is confined to a wheelchair or hospital bed, continued pressure to the joints and areas of the body that have continued contact with the hard surface create pressure that limits the circulation to the affected area. Because the blood is cut off to the area, the cells are deprived of much needed oxygen and begin to slowly die off. This process takes time to occur and is typically exhibited in four different stages.- Stage One— The onset of a pressure sore is very mild and the patient may complain that the area itches or hurts. The affected area will be visibly red and may feel firm when it is touched. Stage one pressure sores are easily treated by removing the pressure on the surrounding area and allowing the area to heal itself naturally.
- Stage Two— Stage Two pressure sores mostly resemble blisters and may have a red or purple discoloration. At this point, the skin has begun to die and peel away due to the lack of oxygen to the surrounding cells. Stage Two pressure sores are considered open wounds and therefore present a risk of infection if left untreated. Like Stage One pressure sores, however, Stage Two pressure sores are easy to treat when they are caught and the recovery is fairly quick.
- Stage Three— When a pressure sore has been allowed to progress to Stage Three, the tissue loss has accelerated and ligaments and tendons are now beginning to deteriorate. The appearance of a Stage Three pressure sore is that of a deep and open wound.
- Stage Four— At this point, cellular degeneration has reached the bone and can begin to affect the joints. These wounds are incredibly difficult to treat and are highly prone to infections that include gangrene and flesh eating bacteria. (Read more here)