What are the 4 grades of pressure sores?

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 does a grade 3 pressure sore look like?

Stage 3. These sores have gone through the second layer of skin into the fat tissue. Symptoms: The sore looks like a crater and may have a bad odor. It may show signs of infection: red edges, pus, odor, heat, and/or drainage.

What are the stages of pressure sores?

These are:

• Stage 1. The area looks red and feels warm to the touch.
• Stage 2. The area looks more damaged and may have an open sore, scrape, or blister.
• Stage 3. The area has a crater-like appearance due to damage below the skin’s surface.
• Stage 4. The area is severely damaged and a large wound is present.

What does a Grade 1 pressure sore look like?

Stage 1 sores are not open wounds. The skin may be painful, but it has no breaks or tears. The skin appears reddened and does not blanch (lose colour briefly when you press your finger on it and then remove your finger).

Are pressure sores and moisture lesions the same?

Clinically, separate identification of moisture lesions makes sense. They do not follow the same pattern as pressure ulcers. For example, they are not found over a bony prominence and can occur in areas of low pressure. There has been some debate about whether there can be a true definition of a moisture lesion.

What are the five causes of pressure bed sores?

Risk factors

• Immobility. This might be due to poor health, spinal cord injury and other causes.
• Incontinence. Skin becomes more vulnerable with extended exposure to urine and stool.
• Lack of sensory perception.
• Poor nutrition and hydration.
• Medical conditions affecting blood flow.

How do you treat Grade 1 pressure sores?

Caring for a Pressure Sore

1. For a stage I sore, you can wash the area gently with mild soap and water.
2. Stage II pressure sores should be cleaned with a salt water (saline) rinse to remove loose, dead tissue.
3. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or iodine cleansers.
4. Keep the sore covered with a special dressing.

What are the types of pressure sores?

There are two other types of pressure sores that don’t fit into the stages. Sores covered in dead skin that is yellow, tan, green, or brown. The dead skin makes it hard to tell how deep the sore is. Pressure sores that develop in the tissue deep below the skin. This is called a deep tissue injury.

What is a Grade 4 ulcer?

A grade 4 pressure ulcer is the most severe type of pressure ulcer. The skin is severely damaged and the surrounding tissue begins to die (tissue necrosis). The underlying muscles or bone may also be damaged. People with grade 4 pressure ulcers have a high risk of developing a life-threatening infection.

What are the different stages of pressure ulcer?

Stages of Pressure Ulcers Stage 1: Non-blanchable ulcer Stage 2: Partial thickness Stage 3: The subcutaneous layer Stage 4: Full-thickness tissue loss Stage 5: Eschar

What is a stage 3 ulcer?

Stage Three. Stage three ulcers are characterized by a lesion that extends well into the dermis and begins to involve the hypodermis (also known as the subcutaneous layer). By this stage, the lesion will form a small crater. Fat may begin to show in the open sore but not muscle, tendon, or bone.