Pressure Ulcer

BASICS

Breakdown in a localized area of skin or underlying tissue, primarily caused by prolonged pressure and/or shear
Usually over a bony prominence where the skin is in proximity with the underlying bone (e.g., sacrum, calcaneus, ischium)
Classified in stages according to the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP):
- Stage I: nonblanchable erythema—intact skin with nonblanchable redness; darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching.
- Stage II: partial-thickness skin loss—shallow open ulcer with a viable red-pink, moist wound bed, without slough; or intact or open/ruptured serum-filled blister
- Stage III: full-thickness skin loss—subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone, tendon, or muscle is not exposed; slough, if present, does not obscure depth of tissue loss.
- Stage IV: full-thickness tissue loss—exposed bone, tendon, or joint; slough or eschar may be present but does not completely obscure wound base.
- Unstageable: depth unknown—base of the ulcer is covered by slough and/or eschar in the wound bed.
- Suspected deep tissue injury: depth unknown—purple or maroon area of intact skin or blood-filled blister. Pain and temperature change precede skin color changes.
Synonyms: bedsores, decubitus ulcers, pressure sores, pressure injuries, pressure wounds, pressure points, pressure damage, pressure-related skin injuries, skin breakdown, ischemic ulcers

Ranges widely depending on setting and population: 0–53.4% (1)

Ranges widely depending on setting and population: 0–72.5% (1)

Complex process of risk factors interacting with external forces (pressure and/or shear, friction, and moisture)

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