Loading...
Loading...
When bedsores are left untreated or improperly managed, they can lead to serious—even fatal—complications. These preventable conditions often indicate negligent care.
Bedsores begin as localized areas of tissue damage caused by sustained pressure. When proper care is not provided, these wounds progress through increasingly severe stages, eventually breaking down the skin's protective barrier and exposing underlying tissue to bacteria and other threats.
The complications listed below typically don't occur in isolation—they often cascade, with one condition leading to another. For example, an infected bedsore can lead to osteomyelitis (bone infection), which can then trigger sepsis (blood poisoning), potentially resulting in death.
Each step in this progression represents a missed opportunity for intervention.
Open wounds from bedsores are highly vulnerable to bacterial infections, including dangerous antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA. Infections can spread rapidly without proper treatment.
Learn moreWhen bedsore infections spread to the bloodstream, sepsis occurs. This whole-body inflammatory response can lead to organ failure and death within hours if not treated immediately.
Learn moreDeep bedsores can allow bacteria to reach and infect the underlying bone. Osteomyelitis requires months of IV antibiotics and often surgical intervention, with high recurrence rates.
Learn moreUntreated bedsores can lead to tissue death (necrosis) and gangrene. These conditions often require amputation and can be fatal if infection spreads throughout the body.
Learn moreBedsore complications are almost always preventable. When a patient under professional care develops these serious conditions, it typically indicates multiple failures in the standard of care:
Complications develop when bedsores are not identified and treated early. Regular skin assessments should catch problems before they become dangerous.
Proper repositioning, pressure-relieving devices, and skin care protocols should prevent bedsores from forming in the first place.
Existing wounds must be closely monitored for signs of infection. Failing to notice warning signs is a serious breach of care standards.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), healthcare facilities have a legal obligation to ensure that residents do not develop avoidable pressure ulcers and that existing ulcers receive proper treatment.
If you notice any of these symptoms in a loved one with bedsores, seek immediate medical attention:
If your family member developed serious complications from bedsores while in a healthcare facility, you may have a legal claim. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation.
Available 24/7 • No Fee Unless We Win
Learn about the different stages of pressure ulcers and what each stage means for treatment and legal claims.
Understand your legal options when a loved one develops bedsores due to negligent care.
Information specific to bedsore cases involving nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Learn about legal claims when bedsore complications lead to the death of a loved one.