Which feature may be present in deeper pressure injuries such as stage 3 or 4?

Which feature may be present in deeper pressure injuries such as stage 3 or 4?

• A. Rapid healing.
• B. Crusting only.
• C. Undermining or tunneling.
• D. Superficial redness.

Answer: (C)

Deeper pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss that can extend beneath the surface, and they often create undermining and tunneling. Undermining occurs when tissue around the wound edges erodes underneath the intact skin, making the wound margin look smaller from the top while the edge has a hollowed area beneath. Tunneling is a channel that extends from the wound bed into surrounding tissue. These features reflect substantial depth and tissue destruction seen in stage 3 and stage 4 injuries. Rapid healing is unlikely in deep wounds, crusting only isn’t typical of deep tissue loss, and superficial redness indicates a much milder, earlier stage.

Deeper pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss that can extend beneath the surface, and they often create undermining and tunneling. Undermining occurs when tissue around the wound edges erodes underneath the intact skin, making the wound margin look smaller from the top while the edge has a hollowed area beneath. Tunneling is a channel that extends from the wound bed into surrounding tissue. These features reflect substantial depth and tissue destruction seen in stage 3 and stage 4 injuries.

Rapid healing is unlikely in deep wounds, crusting only isn’t typical of deep tissue loss, and superficial redness indicates a much milder, earlier stage.