Of the many injuries caused by patient neglect, pressure sores (also known as pressure ulcers, bedsores, and decubitus ulcers) are one of most frustrating.  While pressure sores can cause devastating, life-altering injuries, with only a little bit of effort, they can often be entirely prevented by caretakers.

At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie, our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience handling claims against hospitals, nursing homes and other caretakers throughout the Commonwealth whose failure to merely move a patient from one position to another has caused our client’s needless pain, suffering, and deformity. We have reviewed and handled cases from Philadelphia County to Centre County, Huntingdon County, and Allegheny County.

Pressure sores are caused by external pressure on the skin. This pressure often comes from lying or sitting in the same position for too long. The pressure compresses the blood vessels in the skin, depriving the skin of oxygen and nutrients.  Over time, this leads to the swelling and eventual death of the underlying tissue.

Initially, the sore presents as a large, red, warm, painful bump on the skin (stage I pressure ulcer). If left untreated, the victim will begin to lose skin in and around the sore as the underlying tissue begins to die (stage II pressure ulcer). Advanced pressure sores (stages III and IV) can spread far into the underlying tissue, destroying muscle and bone, and posing a risk of serious infection. Victims of advanced pressure sores are at risk of suffering permanent damage to their nerves and bones which may result in paralysis or even death.

Those who are confined to hospital beds, nursing homes, wheelchairs and others who require assistance to move around are at the greatest risk of developing pressures sores. According to a CDC Data Brief from 2009, 11% of nursing home residents suffered from pressure ulcers. A person can suffer pressure sores in any confined setting, from small-town hospitals like Mt. Nittany Medical Center to big city Hospitals like Jefferson University Hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Typically, the easiest way to prevent pressure sores is to just redistribute the pressure by regularly moving the individual to a different position.  This may involve moving a person from their back to their side or having a person who has been sitting too long lie down.  In a hospital and nursing homes and other such settings, policies are generally in place that requires immobilized patients to be moved at regular intervals.    

The Penn State Hershey Medical Center recommends that caregivers and family members routinely check at-risk patients daily from head to toe for signs of new pressures ulcers.  Catching a pressure sore early can mean the difference between a smooth recovery and a lifetime of pain and disability. The Hershey Medical Center also recommends that patients and family members who suspect they have found a pressure sore should refrain from scrubbing the sore too hard, using talc powder or strong soaps, as these materials are abrasive and may cause further damage to the sore, leading to additional tissue loss and potential infection.

Recent studies have shown it may also help to use specialized support surfaces, such as high-density foam mattresses, sheepskin overlays, and pressure-redistribution mattresses.

You need an experienced personal injury lawyer because even the most apparent claims can be met with strong opposition.  Pressure sore cases can be extremely complicated, especially in cases where the victim is suffering from pre-existing conditions that make them more vulnerable to pressure sores, such as those with diabetes or severe spinal cord injuries.  In those cases, it is easy for the defendants to place the blame on the victim or the pre-existing condition to argue the pressure sores were inevitable, regardless of the kind of care the patient received.

Alvin de Levie and his team have decades of experience fighting for the rights of those who have suffered injuries from pressure sores caused by the neglect of hospitals, nursing homes, and other caretakers. If you or a loved one has suffered from pressure sores personal injury as a result of negligence, contact us today at (844) 777-2529 for a consultation.