Pennsylvania Nursing Home Lawyers
Bedsore prevention in immobile patients requires constant vigilance. Unfortunately, bedsores are a common result of nursing home negligence. If they are not treated right away they can become very stubborn and difficult to heal. Bedsores can lead to severe infections and sepsis. Bedsores can become fatal. If your loved one has developed bedsores in a nursing home, our Pennsylvania nursing home lawyers can help. You should also take pictures immediately to document the condition.
Bedsores
Bedsores are also called pressure sores or decubitus ulcers. They form in patients who are immobile, from constant pressure on the same area. This pressure reduces or cuts off circulation to the tissue, causing the tissue to become weakened or die off and a sore to form. Moisture can contribute to development of bedsores. Recent medical studies have found that almost all bedsores are preventable with good care.
Immobile patients must be routinely turned to prevent bedsores. It is standard to turn a patient, who cannot move on their own, at least once every two hours. Bedsores are not uncommon in nursing home patients, and if they are detected and treated as soon as they begin to form, they can respond well to treatment. Untreated bedsores or bedsores which are not treated in a timely fashion can become fatal.
Bedsores and Infection
Bedsores can lead to very serious infections. Consequences of bedsores can include:
- Sepsis – infection in the bloodstream
- Gangrene – tissue death often leading to amputation or death
- Bone infection
- Joint infection
- Cellulitis – infections of the skin’s connective tissue
- Meningitis – infection of the membrane and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord
- Cancer – long-term wounds which do not heal can develop squamous cell carcinoma, this is sometimes referred to as malignant degeneration
- Bedsore grows so deep that it penetrates internal organs
If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in Pennsylvania, please call us today or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with our nursing home lawyers is free, and if we agree to represent you, we will work for a contingent fee, which means we won’t get paid for our services unless you receive a settlement or an award. In Pennsylvania, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed before the expiration of the statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.