Why Residents Develop Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Homes, Rehab Facilities, and Hospitals
Published by Lexcura Summit Medical-Legal Consulting
Pressure ulcers—also known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers—are a serious yet often preventable complication affecting residents in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals. These wounds can lead to pain, infection, and even death, and they are frequently a sign of substandard care.
At Lexcura Summit Medical-Legal Consulting, we help attorneys nationwide understand the medical and legal complexities surrounding pressure ulcer cases. Our team of licensed nurses and healthcare professionals delivers detailed medical chronologies and expert insights that support plaintiff attorneys in holding facilities accountable for negligence.
🩺 What Are Pressure Ulcers?
Pressure ulcers are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure, friction, or shear—typically over bony areas such as the tailbone, heels, elbows, and hips. They are categorized from Stage 1 (mild reddening) to Stage 4 (deep tissue damage).
🚨 Why Pressure Ulcers Happen in Care Facilities
Residents in nursing homes, rehab centers, and hospitals are often:
Immobile or bedbound
Unable to feel pain due to nerve damage
Dependent on staff for repositioning and hygiene
When care teams fail to follow established protocols, pressure ulcers can develop rapidly. Contributing factors include:
1. Inadequate Repositioning
Residents who are not turned at least every 2 hours are at high risk of developing sores due to constant pressure on certain areas.
2. Poor Nutrition and Hydration
Malnourished or dehydrated patients have fragile skin and delayed healing capacity, increasing ulcer severity.
3. Unmanaged Incontinence
When skin is frequently exposed to moisture from urine or feces, it becomes more susceptible to breakdown.
4. Lack of Skin Assessments
Routine skin assessments are essential for early detection and prevention. In busy or understaffed facilities, this is often overlooked.
5. Improper Documentation
Failure to document existing wounds or new ulcers can obscure accountability and delay treatment.
⚖️ Legal Implications of Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers may indicate neglect or a breach of the standard of care. Attorneys pursuing elder neglect, medical malpractice, or wrongful death claims must determine:
Was the pressure ulcer preventable?
Were facility protocols followed?
Did documentation reflect timely interventions?
🔍 How Lexcura Summit Supports Pressure Ulcer Cases
Our medical-legal consulting team works with attorneys to identify patterns of neglect and build compelling evidence through services such as:
Medical Record Review: We examine care plans, wound care documentation, and progress notes to identify failures in care.
Medical Chronologies: We provide detailed timelines of events that trace the development and management—or mismanagement—of pressure ulcers.
Expert Witness Support: We connect attorneys with wound care-certified nurses and medical experts who can testify on standard-of-care breaches.
Deposition Preparation: We help prepare targeted questions for staff depositions regarding repositioning logs, skin assessments, and wound care protocols.
🧠 Did You Know?
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. develop pressure ulcers each year—and many cases are preventable with basic interventions.
💬 Final Thoughts
Pressure ulcers are not just painful injuries—they are often a red flag for inadequate care in healthcare settings. If your client has suffered due to improper prevention or management of a pressure ulcer, Lexcura Summit Medical-Legal Consulting can help uncover the truth through clinical precision and expert insight.
