Complications of Pressure Sores

Some complications of ongoing Reference pressure sores Opens New Window include:

• Infections.
  • Reference Cellulitis Opens New Window is an infection of the skin. Cellulitis causes painful, red, hot, swollen skin that may crack, split, or weep fluid.
  • Reference Osteomyelitis Opens New Window is an infection in the bone. It can cause swollen and red skin over the affected bone. It also can also cause pain that is worse when pressing on the infected area.
• Bacteremia or a Reference bacterial infection Opens New Window in the blood (Reference sepsis).
• Reference Necrotizing fasciitis Opens New Window or a bacterial infection that destroys skin and soft tissues such as fat and muscle.
• Reference Endocarditis Opens New Window, which is an infection of the heart lining. Symptoms of endocarditis include vague, flu-like symptoms, such as chronic low-grade fever and fatigue.
• Reference Meningitis Opens New Window, which is an infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spine. Meningitis causes a severe headache with a stiff neck, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
• Reference Septic arthritis Opens New Window, which is pain and inflammation of a joint caused by a bacterial infection. Septic arthritis causes a joint to be red, hot, swollen, and tender.
• Reference Abscesses Opens New Window. An abscess can form on the skin or on tissues within the body and cause pain, swelling, and tenderness.
• Deposits of bone in soft tissues (heterotopic bone formation). These occur especially around the hip joint and can cause pain and problems with walking or moving the legs.
• Reference Squamous cell skin cancer Opens New Window, especially if the wound lasts for several months or more or if the wound becomes a Reference stage 4 pressure sore Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window. Symptoms of squamous cell cancer include growths or patches of skin that feel scaly, bleed, or develop a crust, and sores that do not heal.

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