Pressure Injuries

Pressure Injuries

• A characteristic of a stage 1 pressure injury is non-blanchable erythema, which means the skin is red and does not turn white when pressed.
• A characteristic of a stage 2 pressure injury is partial-thickness skin loss or blistering, which may be shallow or deep, and may be painful.
• Deep tissue pressure injury may be indicated by induration (abnormal hardening of tissue) or boggy texture (soft and spongy).
• A characteristic of a stage 3 pressure injury is full-thickness skin loss, which extends into the subcutaneous tissue, but not through the fascia.
• Visual changes in a stage 1 pressure injury may be preceded by changes in sensation, temperature, or firmness of the skin.
• In darkly pigmented skin, a distinguishing feature of a stage 1 pressure injury is heat, firmness, or coolness compared to adjacent tissue.
• The presence of slough (dead tissue) or eschar (scab) does not indicate a stage 2 pressure injury.
• A characteristic of a stage 3 pressure injury is full-thickness skin loss, which extends into the subcutaneous tissue, but not through the fascia.
• Visual changes in a stage 1 pressure injury may be preceded by changes in sensation, temperature, or firmness of the skin.
• A common cause of stage 2 pressure injuries is friction and shear forces, which can cause partial-thickness skin loss or blistering.