PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

Which stage of pressure ulcer is characterized by nonblanchable redness?

1. Stage I

2. Stage II

3. Stage III

4. Stage IV

The correct answer is: Stage I

The stage of pressure ulcer characterized by nonblanchable redness is indeed Stage I. In this initial stage, the skin may appear intact, but there is a noticeable change in color, typically redness that does not turn white when pressure is applied, indicating that there is some damage to the underlying tissue. This nonblanchable erythema can often be the first sign of pressure damage and highlights the need for early intervention to prevent further progression to more severe ulcer stages. As for the other stages, they progressively indicate more severe tissue damage. Stage II involves partial-thickness skin loss presenting as a shallow ulcer with a red to pink wound bed, while Stage III indicates full-thickness skin loss, with visible adipose tissue. Stage IV is even more serious and features full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. Understanding these distinctions helps in recognizing the severity of pressure ulcers and emphasizes the importance of timely assessments and interventions.