Understanding Bedsores

Stages of Bedsores

Bedsores are classified into four stages based on their severity:

1. Stage I: Area of redness that does not blanch or fade.
2. Stage II: Wound where the top layer of skin is removed but the underlying fat or tendons are not exposed.
3. Stage III: The sores are deep enough to expose the second layer of skin and underlying fat.
4. Stage IV: Deep sores that expose muscle, ligaments or bone.

Causes of Bedsores

Patients at long-term care facilities or nursing homes frequently develop bedsores, particularly if the facility is understaffed or lacks adequate resources to provide proper bedsore prevention. Risk factors include:

• Inability to move
• Dependence on facility for hygiene
• Lack of proper nutrition or hydration
• Poor blood circulation for conditions such as diabetes
• Medical conditions that cause sensation loss (such as spinal cord injuries)

Treatment and Prevention of Bedsores

Most bedsores are preventable with careful nursing care and frequent pressure relief.  Bedsores often result from neglect of basic nursing or custodial care, such as:

• Failure to relieve pressure on the bedsores by changing a patient’s position frequently
• Failure to keep a resident clean and dry
• Failure to provide a proper diet and sufficient water
• Failure to monitor less severe bedsores once they form
• Failure to follow treatment orders once bedsores form