When it is determined that an individual has a bedsore, there are different steps taken to treat the area. The first thing that must be done when treating a bedsore is to remove the pressure on that area of the skin. Often, when the sore is in the early stages, this will go a long way towards relieving pain, and in a best case scenario, the sore will heal once an individual is repositioned properly.
In the later stages of bedsores, more steps must be taken to treat the area, and consequently, more time is needed for the wound to heal entirely. Open bedsores will need to be cleaned, medicated and properly dressed in bandages before there will be any type of progression toward healing.
For later stage bedsores, surgery may be a required. Removal the dead tissue from sores, called debridement, is one procedure. Debridement can be very painful, as dead tissue may still be connected to live tissue. Another, more aggressive surgery, called flap reconstruction, may be necessary. In flap reconstruction, muscle or skin from another area of the body is placed over the wound.
An ounce of medicine is worth a pound of cure. One of the best ways to prevent bedsores is to provide adequate rotation and repositioning. If your loved one is a resident of a nursing home or assisted living facility, be vigilant. If you do notice early stage bedsores, make sure that the staff are aware and take steps to treat.
If your loved one has developed bed sores, or has been injured in a nursing home or assisted living facility, then please, feel free to call and speak to one of our experienced Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyers today. Our consultations are always free.
