Pressure ulcers are localized skin injuries caused by prolonged unrelieved pressure, usually over bony areas. They are staged from 1 to 4 based on the depth of tissue destruction, with stage 1 being non-blanchable erythema and stage 4 extending into muscle, tendon or bone. Stage 2 involves damage to the epidermis and dermis, appearing as a shallow open ulcer. Stage 3 is a full-thickness tissue loss where subcutaneous fat may be visible.

1. BY
Mrs. sukhwinder kaur

2.  DEFINITION:
 A Pressure ulcer or Pressure sore or Decubitus
ulcer or bedsore is localized injury to the skin
and other underlying tissue, usually over a
body prominence, as a result of prolonged
unrelieved pressure.

3.  Staging systems for pressure ulcers are based
on the depth of tissue destroyed.
 Based on the depth there are four stages of
bedsores
1. Stage 1
2. Stage 2
3. Stage 3
4. Stage 4

4. 1. Intact skin presents with nonbalanchable
erythema (redness of the skin) of a localized
area usually over a bony prominence.
2. Discoloration of the skin, warmth, edema or
pain may also be present.
3. Stage 1 indicates “at –risk” persons.
4. Involves only the epidermal layer of skin.

7.  A partial thickness loss of dermis presents as a
shallow open ulcer with a red – pink wound
bed without slough.
 Stage 2 is damage to the epidermis and the
dermis. In this stage, the ulcer may be referred
to as a blister or abrasion.

9.  A stage 3 ulcer is a full-thickness tissue loss.
Subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone,
tendon, or muscle is not exposed.
 Epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissues
involved.
 Subcutaneous layer has a relatively poor blood
supply. So its difficult to heal.

11.  A stage 4 ulcer is the deepest, extending into
the muscle, tendon or even bone.
 Full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone,
tendon or muscle.