Stages of Pressure Ulcers by National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel
Has a detailed description of the various Stages of Pressure Ulcers also known as Decubitus Ulcers and Bed Sores. The are detailed and quite graphic but the visual of each stage is invaluable in identifying the wound and determining whether it is improving or worsening. The site shows skin conditions in each Stage:
NPUAP Free Resource Category/Staging / Stages of Pressure Ulcers / Illustrations:
•Normal
•Category/Stage One
•Category/Stage Two
•Category/Stage Three
•Category/Stage Four
•Unstageable
•Suspected Deep Tissue Injury
If you suspect a loved one is suffering from a Pressure Ulcer, PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!
For more information regarding pressure ulcers also known as pressure injuries please look at the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel website located at: National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel
Nursing Home Pressure Ulcer Sore Injury
Residents of nursing homes have a few areas of risk that are the greatest, some like falls, being dropped from lifts, medication mistakes, sexual and physical abuse are obvious forms of neglect. Pressure sore injury is usually neglect that occurs over a period of time and due to a failure to relieve pressure usually aggravated by other factors such as a lack of nutrition and hydration and issues with sanitation and hygiene in the subject facility.
Pressure Sore Injury is Preventable
According to federal regulations, based on the comprehensive assessment of a resident, the facility must ensure that—
(i) A resident receives care, consistent with professional standards of practice, to prevent pressure ulcers and does not develop pressure ulcers unless the individual’s clinical condition demonstrates that they were unavoidable; and
(ii) A resident with pressure ulcers receives necessary treatment and services, consistent with professional standards of practice, to promote healing, prevent infection and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Pressure Sore Injury to Skin and Underlying Tissue
According to WebMD,pressure sores (bed sores) are an injury to the skin and underlying tissue. They can range from mild reddening of the skin to severe tissue damage-and sometimes infection-that extends into muscle and bone. Pressure sores are described in four stages:
Stage 1 sores are not open wounds. The skin may be painful, but it has no breaks or tears. The skin appears reddened and does not blanch (lose color briefly when you press your finger on it and then remove your finger). In a dark-skinned person, the area may appear to be a different color than the surrounding skin, but it may not look red. Skin temperature is often warmer. And the stage 1 sore can feel either firmer or softer than the area around it.
At stage 2, the skin breaks open, wears away, or forms an ulcer, which is usually tender and painful. The sore expands into deeper layers of the skin. It can look like a scrape (abrasion), blister, or a shallow crater in the skin. Sometimes this stage looks like a blister filled with clear fluid. At this stage, some skin may be damaged beyond repair or may die.
During stage 3, the sore gets worse and extends into the tissue beneath the skin, forming a small crater. Fat may show in the sore, but not muscle, tendon, or bone.
At stage 4, the pressure sore is very deep, reaching into muscle and bone and causing extensive damage. Damage to deeper tissues, tendons, and joints may occur.
Additional Information on Pressure Sore Injury
Also see my other blogs on this topic:
Report Suspected Elder Abuse
This website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from neglect or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member.
To contact Attorney Kenneth L. LaBore, directly please send an email to KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com or call Ken at 612-743-9048 or toll free at 1-888-452-6589.
Disclaimer
