Bedsore - Symptoms and Complications

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Symptoms and Complications
A pressure sore usually begins as a reddened, sensitive patch of skin and then goes on to develop into a sore or ulcer that can extend deep into the muscle and even bone. If left untreated, a pressure sore may lead to cellulitis or a chronic infection.

Making the Diagnosis
If you're bedridden or in a wheelchair, your doctor or nurse should be watching for signs of bedsores. Their appearance and predictable locations on the body make them easy to diagnose. The severity of your skin breakdown may be categorized as follows:

Stage 1: Abnormal redness of the skin. This stage is reversible.

Stage 2: The redness will progress to an abrasion, blister, or shallow crater. This stage is also reversible.

Stage 3: A crater-like sore or ulcer that has begun to extend beneath the skin. This stage may be life-threatening.

Stage 4: Skin loss with extensive destruction or damage to muscle, bone, or supporting structures such as tendons or joint capsules. This stage may prove fatal.