Can pressure sores in an elderly, non-ambulant patient have any potential medical significance other than causing discomfort?

Infection: Pressure sores that ulcerated can become sources of infection.

It can progress: destroys muscles, bone , joints and tendons. An infection can spread to the rest of the body and cause serious problems. Signs that the infection may have spread to the blood can include fever, weakness, and confusion.

Yes: Pressure sores occur due to friction resulting from injury resulting from not turning frail or immobile people and not changing them when wet or after BM. It may also reflect poor nutritional status. Presence should be a consideration for neglect. It can cause systemic infection and also can lead to Osteomyelitis or bone infection. Hence requires aggressive management