Bedsores are classified into stages, depending on the severity of skin damage:
* Stage I (earliest signs of skin damage) - White people or people with pale skin develop a lasting patch of red skin that does not turn white when you press it with your finger. In people with darker skin, the patch may be red, purple or blue and may be more difficult to detect. The skin may be tender or itchy, and may feel warm or cold and firm.
* Stage II - The injured skin blisters or develops an open sore or abrasion that does not extend through the full thickness of the skin. There may be a surrounding area of red or purple discoloration, mild swelling and some oozing.
* Stage III - The ulcer becomes a crater and that goes below the skin surface.
* Stage IV - The crater deepens and reaches into a muscle, bone, tendon or joint.
Because broken skin can allow bacteria to enter, bedsores are extremely vulnerable to infection. This is especially true if the sore is contaminated by urine or feces. Signs of infection in a bedsore can include:
* Pus draining from the sore
* A foul smelling odor
* Tenderness, heat and increased redness in the surrounding skin
* Fever
Like many cases involving bed sores (also referred to as: pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers) the nursing homes main argument is usually that the patients wounds were 'unavoidable'.
While there may be a limited number of circumstances where skin-breakdown occurs despite the implementation of all feasible preventative measures--- most cases of bed sores simply result from downright neglect and faulty care-- the facility simply not doing its job in caring for the patients says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck who can be contacted toll free at 1.866.999.9085.
