Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, form on the skin when bedridden patients are immobilized for long periods of time. While bedsores can be prevented when caregivers turn or move patients regularly, this form of care does not always happen when it needs to—making bedsores a startlingly common occurrence.
Below, our Baltimore nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys discuss the most common areas on the body where bedsores form.
No Area is Immune from Bedsores
Although all parts of the body are susceptible to developing bedsores, there are certain areas that are more likely to form them than others.
The parts of the body most at risk for developing bedsores include fatty areas and bony protuberances. Because bony protuberances, such as the knees and ankles, tend to bear the weight of the body when sitting or lying down, these areas are highly susceptible to bedsores. Additionally, fatty areas, such as the hips and buttocks, are at risk of developing bedsores due to their use as a cushion that relieves pressure from other parts of the body.
As such, the most common areas where bedsores form include:
- Back of the head
- Ankles
- Heels
- Hips
- Lower back
- Spine
- Knees
How to Treat a Bedsore Once It Forms
A bedsore has four stages of development. Once a bedsore reaches its later stages, more aggressive treatment is required to resolve it.
Such treatments include the following:
- Debridement. This method involves the removal of dead skin cells from a bedsore. There are several different methods of debridement, including surgical, mechanical, autolytic, and enzymatic.
- Wound vacs. This method involves the use of a wound vac to drain a bedsore of leaking fluid. This helps prevent infection and promote healing. Then, an airtight seal is placed over the wound and a pump drains the wound of fluid.
- Flap reconstruction surgery. This method may be used on patients who have lost tissue and skin due to the bedsore. A surgeon will take healthy skin from another part of the body and transplant it onto the wound.
Did Your Loved One Suffer a Bedsore in Their Nursing Home? We’re Here to Help
There is no excuse for a bedsore to reach its later stages, or even develop in the first place. Sadly, however, bedsores form and develop to the point where aggressive treatment is needed quite often.
If your loved one suffered a bedsore in their nursing home, our team is here to help you and your family obtain justice.
Contact Brown & Barron, LLC today at (410) 698-1717 to schedule a free consultation with our team.
