Pressure Ulcers and Nursing Home Neglect: When Preventable Wounds Lead to Infection and Amputation

Pressure ulcers (or bedsores) are largely preventable. They occur when a person remains in the same position for lengthy periods without adequate care provided to them. If these wounds are not identified and treated early, they can get worse by deepening and creating infections. Those infections have the potential to spread into bone, creating a medical emergency that requires immediate care.

In severe cases, infections from pressure ulcers can develop into osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection that leads to amputation. Not only can this result in something devastating for a nursing home resident and their families, but it also opens the door for potential legal action. A nursing home neglect lawyer may assist you in filing a claim if your elderly loved one was a victim of neglect, especially in situations where pressure ulcers were present and were never cared for.

Why Pressure Ulcers Are Considered Preventable Injuries

Pressure ulcers develop when prolonged pressure cuts off blood flow to the skin and underlying tissue of an affected area. In a nursing home or long-term care setting, this typically happens to individuals who are unable to reposition themselves. They include:

• Elderly nursing home residents
• Patients recovering from surgical procedures
• Patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes
• Individuals who are paralyzed or have limited mobility

Proper skin care and regular repositioning is key to ensure that pressure ulcers are prevented. Otherwise, the affected tissue breaks down over time. In the early stages, pressure ulcers may appear as red or discolored areas of the skin. If untreated, the wound can progress into the deeper layers of the tissue ultimately exposing muscle, tendons, and bone. That’s when the risk of infection increases dramatically.

The Preventable Pressure Ulcer That Progressed Into A Severe Infection

An elderly individual has been in a nursing home for about six months. During a visit one day, a member of their family notices redness on one of their hips. They brought this up to a member of the nursing home staff and it was determined to be something harmless. Over time, that redness developed into something worse.

The redness ended up being a pressure ulcer that was overlooked. This was the result of the staff failing to perform their duties such as repositioning and regular skin checks. As a result, the wound was never treated promptly and the open ulcer was formed. Family members brought up the situation to their elderly loved one’s doctor and the latter was admitted.

Upon further examination, the pressure ulcer had already developed into a severe infection that spread into the hip bone. This caused osteomyelitis and the only option was amputation of the hip along with the entire leg to prevent the spread from progressing. A concern about redness was dismissed as harmless and turned into something more devastating, further proving that the nursing home staff’s failure to further investigate could have been preventable.

The elderly resident’s doctor began to ask questions such as “why wasn’t this discovered sooner”. After which, he informs the family members to consider pursuing a nursing home neglect claim and refers them to an attorney who has handled such cases. He would be able to assist them in providing documentation of the diagnosis of the infection from the wound along with a timeline of what had happened from the initial discovery onward.

The Stages of Pressure Ulcers: What To Know?

Pressure ulcers develop in stages. Each stage represents a deeper level of tissue damage. The earlier the stage, the chances of preventing an amputation increase. Here are the pressure ulcer stages:

• Stage I: Skin remains intact. Red or discoloration is present and may feel warm or tender.
• Stage 2: The outer layer of the skin breaks open. It forms a shallow wound or blister.
• Stage 3: The ulcer has already deepened into the fatty tissue beneath the skin.
• Stage 4: The ulcer reaches muscle, tendon, or bone. At this point, the risk for severe infection is much higher.

The advanced ulcers can become easily infected. From there, complications like nursing home pressure ulcer osteomyelitis will likely develop. That is why nursing home care staff are trained to identify pressure ulcers at every stage and act accordingly. The sooner they are spotted, the better.

How Pressure Ulcers Can Lead to Amputation

Once bacteria enters a deep pressure wound, it can become a fast spreading infection. It is important to know the potential complications. These include:

• Cellulitis (skin infection)
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Abscess formation
• Sepsis

One thing to note is that bone infection is considered one of the most challenging infections to treat. For this reason, the options are limited. A doctor may attempt:

• Surgical debridement (removal of infected tissue)
• Long-term antibiotic therapy
• Advanced wound care treatments

While these are viable options, there is no guarantee that these may stop the infection from spreading. If the spread continues, amputation is the last resort to ensure life-threatening complications are prevented. The question after this becomes: what could have been done to prevent this in the first place?

Malpractice Themes in Nursing Home Pressure Ulcer Cases

Because not every pressure ulcer is a result of negligence, it makes medical malpractice cases complex in terms of determining if such themes are present. All the better reason to go with an experienced nursing home neglect attorney that has worked on numerous cases and is aware of the malpractice themes that could exist in your situation. These include the following:

• Failure to turn and reposition patients: Patients who are unable to independently reposition themselves must rely on those who can reposition them regularly. This is to ensure that pressure is relieved on vulnerable areas.
• Failure to identify and treat wounds early: Routine skin checks should detect any early signs of pressure damage before it progresses.
• Poor nutrition and hydration support: Maintaining healthy skin and promoting healing can be done through proper nutrition and hydration.
• Delayed wound specialist involvement: Advanced pressure wounds require immediate evaluation from wound care specialists in order to prevent complications from happening.

Basic care standards in nursing homes and long-term care facilities must be followed. Not only is this appropriate for preventing pressure ulcers, but it also applies to preserving the quality of life of the patients they are caring for. The lack of appropriate care can lead to devastating consequences for the victim and their family. It also opens the door to possible legal action being taken against the care staff or even the facility itself. That is why care staff are trained regularly to uphold the standard of care.

Final Thoughts

If your loved one was in a nursing home or long-term care facility and experienced pressure sores that led to severe infection or amputation, legal options are available. It is highly recommended that you consult with a medical malpractice lawyer in your area to determine if a case is viable. These cases are complex and should never be tackled alone. With an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer at your side, they can become the advocate on behalf of your loved one and family. Whether in the settlement phase or in the court room, they can fight for you. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer for a consult today.