If someone you love has sustained bed sores or pressure ulcers while in the care of a skilled nursing facility or nursing home, you may consider contacting an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer. In and around Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys are very familiar with this preventable condition, and can help you understand the classification of such an injury.

Pressure ulcers are generally classified in four stages:

Stage I represents intact skin with signs of impending ulceration.

Stage II represents a partial-thickness loss of skin. This lesion may present as an abrasion, blister, or superficial ulceration.

Stage III represents a full-thickness loss of skin with extension into tissue beneath the skin. This lesion presents as a crater with or without undermining of adjacent tissue.

Stage IV represents full-thickness loss of skin and subcutaneous tissue and extension into muscle, bone, tendon, or joint capsule. Sinus tracts and severe undermining commonly are present. A bedsore can, without proper intervention, easily proceed from Stage I to Stage IV.

It is critical that a pressure ulcer is kept clean. Surgical debridement is often necessary. This involves removing the necrotic (dead) tissue. In severe pressure ulcer cases, reconstructive surgery may be necessary.

If a pressure ulcer is not resolved through appropriate treatment it may continue to grow. At a certain point infection will set in and amputation may be required. If advanced sepsis develops amputation may not be sufficient and a resident will die.

If you or someone you know has suffered from a pressure ulcer or bed sore due to Illinois nursing home neglect, contact an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer today.

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