By stage 4, the sore extends deeply through the skin and fat and into the muscle. In stage 5, the muscle itself is destroyed. In stage 6, the deepest stage of a bedsore, the bone is exposed, damaged, and sometimes infected. Once the skin is broken, infection becomes a problem. Infection delays healing of shallow sores and can be life threatening in deeper sores.
Prevention Established bedsores are painful and life threatening.
They lengthen the time spent in hospitals or nursing homes and increase the cost of care. Prevention is the top priority, and deep bedsores can almost always be prevented with intensive nursing care. Preventing sores often involves the participation of attendants and family members in addition to nurses. Careful daily inspection of a bedridden person's skin can detect early redness. Any sign of redness is a signal that immediate action is needed to prevent skin breakdown.