Stage II pressure ulcer involves which depth?

Stage II pressure ulcer involves which depth?

• A. Full-thickness skin loss
• B. Only epidermal abrasion
• C. Non-blanchable erythema
• D. Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis

Answer: (D)

Partial-thickness skin loss, involving the epidermis and/or dermis, is the depth described for a Stage II pressure ulcer. This means the damage goes beyond the surface layer but does not extend into the subcutaneous tissue. Clinically this appears as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed, and it may also present as an intact or ruptured serum-filled blister. This distinguishes it from deeper wounds that involve subcutaneous tissue (Stage III) or deeper structures like muscle or bone (Stage IV), and from Stage I, which is non-blanchable erythema of intact skin.

Partial-thickness skin loss, involving the epidermis and/or dermis, is the depth described for a Stage II pressure ulcer. This means the damage goes beyond the surface layer but does not extend into the subcutaneous tissue. Clinically this appears as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed, and it may also present as an intact or ruptured serum-filled blister. This distinguishes it from deeper wounds that involve subcutaneous tissue (Stage III) or deeper structures like muscle or bone (Stage IV), and from Stage I, which is non-blanchable erythema of intact skin.