Bed sores are defined as injuries to the skin and underlying tissue as a result of prolonged pressure on the skin. Lying or sitting in one position for too long can cut off the blood supply to areas that touch a bed or chair that a person is confined to, simply due to body weight. Since bed sores are preventable, they can be a sign of abuse or neglect from staff at a nursing home, hospital, or an assisted living facility.
If you or a loved one has acquired bedsores while admitted to a medical facility, speak to a Northern Virginia personal injury attorney at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP, as you maybe entitled to compensation. We have extensive experience handling bed sore cases and we can offer you a free case evaluation. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Our Firm
- We have over 38 years of experience holding medical facilities accountable for abuse and neglect towards residents.
- We are committed to providing clients with honest, fair, and compassionate legal representation.
- You will not pay for our services unless we obtain compensation for you.
Stages of a Bed Sore in Northern Virginia
There are four stages of bed sores, each with their own specified symptoms:
Stage 1
In this mild stage, only the top layer of skin is affected.
Symptoms: Red area on skin, pain, burning, or itching. The spot may feel firmer or softer, or warmer or cooler than the rest of your skin. If the spot doesn’t lighten at all when pressure is applied, that means less blood is getting to the area.
Stage 2
The sore is affecting the layer below the surface of your skin.
Symptoms: Open wound or a blister that may drain pus or clear fluid, pain, swelling, warm to touch, possible redness.
Stage 3
These sores are affecting the fat tissue below the skin layers.
Symptoms: Crater-like sore that may have a bad odor. It may show signs of infection: red edges, pus, odor, heat, and/or drainage. If tissue has died in or around the sore, it will be black.
Stage 4
The most serious of bed sores, that can possibly affect muscles and ligaments.
Symptoms: Big and deep sore, that is most likely infected. The skin is black with red edges, warm, draining pus, smells, and tendons, muscles, and bone may be visible.
Other Stages
There are two more stages, in addition to the four main stages for bed sores:
Unstageable – the depth of the sore is unknown, as the bottom of it cannot be seen. The sore must be cleaned out by a doctor first, then given a stage.
Suspected Deep Tissue Injury (SDTI) – The surface of the skin looks like a Stage 1 or 2 sore, but the sore is actually a Stage 3 or 4 below the skin.
Common Sites for a Bed Sore
People who are confined to wheelchairs often suffer from bed sores on skin in the following sites:
- Tailbone or buttocks
- Spine
- Shoulder blades
- Backs of arms and legs that are touching the chair
People who must remain in a bed commonly sustain bed sores on these sites:
- Sides and back of the head
- Shoulder blades
- Hips
- Lower back or tailbone
- Heels and ankles
- Skin behind the knees
Why You Need a Northern Virginia Bed Sore Attorney
Health care facilities will attempt to deny or explain away any medical negligence. A bed sore attorney will have the experience and understanding of the applicable laws that is needed to successfully hold the health care facility responsible for failing to meet required standards of care. An attorney will also have the resources to go about investigating the facts surrounding the injury so they may attain the evidence needed to validate your claim. You will have the ability to focus on your family, while the maximum amount of compensation is being sought after on your behalf.
Contact the Northern Virginia Bed Sore law firm of Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP
If you suspect a loved one has developed a bed sore due to a lack of care at a medical facility, our highly qualified bed sore attorneys can help you seek compensation for their negligence. Contact us today and receive a free consultation.