Background: The impact of adequate follow-up care on patient outcomes cannot be overemphasized. Unfortunately, indigent care populations commonly have limited access to follow-up care and may suffer the consequences of increased post-operative complications and morbidity. In the case of pressure sores, this would mean an increase in the incidence of pressure sore recurrence and the need for further procedures. Purpose: To determine the impact of sustained follow-up care on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with pressure sores. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in order to obtain data on all patients that received an operation for a pressure sore in the Department of Plastic Surgery between January 1990 and January 2000. The patients were divided into groups based on whether they were followed for less than six months post-operatively or longer than six months post-operatively. The incidence of recurrent pressure sores and the need for further surgery was compared between the two study groups. Results: A total of 241 patients were included in the study with 89 patients that were followed for less than six months post-operatively and 152 patients that were followed for longer than six months post-operatively. The average length of follow-up was 1.4 +/- 0.6 years. The pressure sore recurrence rate was 53% in patients that were followed for less than six months post-operatively and 24% in patients that were followed for longer than six months post-operatively (p < 0.001). The need for further surgery was 44% of patients that were followed for less than six months post-operatively and 18% in patients that were followed for longer than six months post-operatively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In pressure sore patients, decreased access to adequate continuity of care has a significant negative impact on long-term patient outcomes. In light of this, pressure sore patients should have long-term coordinated follow-up care in order to prevent significant post-operative morbidity including an increase in the incidence of pressure sore recurrence and the need for further operations.