Complications of Pressure Injuries
Topic Overview
Some complications of ongoing
pressure injuries
include:
- Infections.
-
Cellulitis
is an infection of the skin. Cellulitis
causes painful, red, hot, swollen skin that may crack, split, or weep
fluid.
-
Osteomyelitis
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
bacterial infection
in the blood (sepsis).
-
Necrotizing fasciitis
or a bacterial infection that destroys skin and soft tissues
such as fat and muscle.
-
Endocarditis
,
which is an infection of the heart lining. Symptoms of endocarditis include
vague, flu-like symptoms, such as chronic low-grade fever and fatigue.
-
Meningitis
, 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.
-
Septic arthritis
, 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.
-
Abscesses
. 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.
-
Squamous cell
skin cancer
, especially if the wound lasts for several months or more or if the wound becomes a
stage 4 pressure injury
. 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.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Margaret Doucette, DO - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wound Care, Hyperbaric Medicine
Current as ofJune 7, 2017
Current as of:
June 7, 2017