When your elderly loved one in Maryland has bedsores, it is important for him or her to receive appropriate treatment right away. Otherwise, the pressure ulcer could become infected, in which case it could take a long time to heal and potentially cause life-threatening complications. However, there is no generic treatment for bedsores. The appropriate response depends on a number of factors.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, bedsore treatment may include administering antibiotic medications to fight infection, relieving pressure on the affected area and using dressings such as medicated gauze to protect the wound. Sometimes a procedure such as a debridement or skin graft is necessary. Debridement involves removing dead tissue from the wound, and a skin graft places new skin over the wound to replace the damaged skin. Another treatment option involves negative pressure wound therapy, and ensuring good nutrition can help.
The correct treatment depends in part on the pressure ulcer’s stage, i.e., how deeply it extends and how many layers of tissue it involves. There are four stages of bedsores, with stage 1 being the least serious and stage 4 being the most severely damaged.
Despite being the least serious, a stage 1 bedsore can still cause itching, burning or pain, and the area may feel warm to the touch and look red. Stage 4 bedsores are at great risk for infection because they sometimes extend beneath the skin to involve bones, joints, muscles and/or tendons. Damage beneath the surface gives stage 3 bedsores a crater-like appearance, while stage 2 involves a blister, scrape or open sore, sometimes with discoloration.
The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.
