What are the 4 grades of pressure sores?
Pressure sores are graded to four levels, including:
- grade I – skin discolouration, usually red, blue, purple or black.
- grade II – some skin loss or damage involving the top-most skin layers.
- grade III – necrosis (death) or damage to the skin patch, limited to the skin layers.
What are the stages of pressure ulcer development?
Stages of decubitus ulcers
- Stage 1. The skin isn’t broken, but it’s discolored.
- Stage 2. There is breakage in the skin revealing a shallow ulcer or erosion.
- Stage 3. The ulcer is much deeper within the skin.
- Stage 4. Many layers are affected in this stage, including your muscle and bone.
- Unstageable.
What are the 6 stages of pressure ulcers?
Classifications of Pressure Ulcers.
What does a Stage 4 bedsore look like?
Characterized by severe tissue damage, a stage 4 bedsore is the largest and deepest of all bedsore stages. They look like reddish craters in the skin, and muscles, bones, and/or tendons may be visible at the bottom of the sore. An infected stage 4 bedsore may have a foul smell and leak pus.
How long does it take for a stage 4 pressure ulcer to develop?
Grade 3 or 4 pressure ulcers can develop quickly. For example, in susceptible people, a full-thickness pressure ulcer can sometimes develop in just 1 or 2 hours. However, in some cases, the damage will only become apparent a few days after the injury has occurred.
How long does a Stage 4 bedsore take to heal?
However, it can take anywhere from three months to two years for a stage 4 bedsore to properly heal. If wound care for the stage 4 bedsore cannot be improved, the long-term prognosis is poor.
What does a Stage 3 ulcer look like?
It can look like a scrape (abrasion), blister, or a shallow crater in the skin. Sometimes this stage looks like a blister filled with clear fluid. At this stage, some skin may be damaged beyond repair or may die. During stage 3, the sore gets worse and extends into the tissue beneath the skin, forming a small crater.