Pressure ulcer classification and degrees of severity
Category/Stage I: Non-blanchable redness of intact skin
Intact skin with non-blanchable erythema of a localized area usually over a bony prominence.
Discoloration of the skin, warmth, edema, hardness or pain may also be present. Darkly
pigmented skin may not have visible blanching. Further description: The area may be painful,
firm, soft, warmer or cooler as compared to adjacent tissue. Category/Stage I may be difficult
to detect in individuals with dark skin tones. May indicate “at risk” persons.
Category/Stage II: Partial thickness skin loss or blister
Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed,
without slough. May also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum-filled or sero-sanginous
filled blister. Further description: Presents as a shiny or dry shallow ulcer without slough or
bruising. This category/stage should not be used to describe skin tears, tape burns,
incontinence associated dermatitis, maceration or excoriation.
Category/Stage III: Full thickness skin loss (fat visible)
Full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle are not
exposed. Some slough may be present. May include undermining and tunneling.
Further description: The depth of a Category/Stage III pressure ulcer varies by anatomical
location. The bridge of the nose, ear, occiput and malleolus do not have (adipose)
subcutaneous tissue and Category/Stage III ulcers can be shallow. In contrast, areas of
significant adiposity can develop extremely deep Category/Stage III pressure ulcers.
Bone/tendon is not visible or directly palpable.
Category/Stage IV: Full thickness tissue loss (muscle/bone visible)
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Full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon or muscle. Slough or eschar may be
present. Often include undermining and tunneling. Further description: The depth of a
Category/Stage IV pressure ulcer varies by anatomical location. The bridge of the nose, ear,
occiput and malleolus do not have (adipose) subcutaneous tissue and these ulcers can be
shallow. Category/Stage IV ulcers can extend into muscle and/or supporting structures (e.g.,
fascia, tendon or joint capsule) making osteomyelitis or osteitis likely to occur. Exposed
bone/muscle is visible or directly palpable.
Source: http://www.epuap.org/guidelines/Final_Quick_Treatment.pdf
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Product Guide
To protect:
Professional consensus (in the treatment of pressure ulcers) recommends to create the optimum wound healing environment by using modern
dressings –e.g. hydrocolloids, hydrogels, hydrofibres, foams, films, alginates, soft silicones, in preference to basic dressing types – e.g. gauze,
paraffin gauze and simple dressing pads1.
Hydrocoll® gelatin-free hydrocolloid wound dressing
Hydrofilm® high MVTR transparent film dressing
The smooth slippery backing minimises the friction coefficient of the
patient-support surface. This means that the patient is able to move more
easily over the support surface and the area covered by the dressing is
likely to be exposed to lower levels of pressure, shear and friction2.
By applying a film dressing to vulnerable areas, the risk of pressure ulcers
may be reduced due to the low friction external surface of the film4.
Also consider using film dressings as a secondary dressing for ulcers
treated with alginates or other wound filler that will likely remain in the
ulcer bed for an extended period of time (e.g. 3-5 days).
To debride:
To absorb:
Hydrocoll® gelatin-free hydrocolloid wound dressing
Hydrosorb® sheet hydrogel dressing
Provides the ideal environment for the formation of granulation tissue,
particularly the activity of fibroblasts, accelerating the wound healing
process3. Hydrocoll® facilitates debridement of necrotic tissue and slough
by promoting autolysis.
Supplies the wound with moisture from the outset and facilitates autolytic
debridement. Its transparency allows inspection of the wound at all times
without dressing change (highly economical due to prolonged dressing
change intervals), ideal for keeping granulation and epithelial tissue moist.
Zetuvit® Plus super absorbent wound dressing pad
PermaFoam® hydroactive foam dressing and
Sorbalgon® calcium alginate dressing
The blend of cellulose fluff and fluid retaining super absorbent particles
(SAP) means that Zetuvit® Plus is particularly suitable for the treatment
of heavily exuding pressure ulcers. The unique structure of the dressing
provides cushioning3.
PAUL HARTMANN LIMITED, Heywood Distribution Park, Pilsworth Road, Heywood, Lancashire 0L10 2TT
Tel: 01706 363200 Fax: 01706 363201 Web: www.hartmann.co.uk E-mail: info@uk.hartmann.info
Also suitable for the management of exuding pressure ulcers.
1 Bazin, S. et al (2005) The management of pressure ulcers in primary and secondary care.
A Clinical Practice Guideline. Royal College of Nursing
2 Fletcher J. et al (2011) Pressure ulcers and hydrocolloids made easy. Wounds International, Volume 2, issue 4
3 Data on file
4 Nakagami G. et al. Comparison of two pressure ulcer preventative dressings for reducing shear force on the heel.
Journal of Wound Ostomy. Continence Nurse. 2006 May-Jun;33(3):267-72