Which description accurately defines a pressure injury at Stage 3?

• A. Full thickness skin loss with adipose tissue exposed; may see granulation tissue, slough, or eschar.
• B. Partial thickness skin loss with only the epidermis affected.
• C. Full thickness tissue loss with bone, muscle, or tendon visible.
• D. Intact skin over a local area with redness.

Answer: (A)

Stage 3 pressure injuries involve full-thickness skin loss with exposure of subcutaneous tissue, meaning the wound extends through the skin into the fat layer but not yet to bone, muscle, or tendon. Seeing adipose tissue exposed is a hallmark of this depth. The wound bed may also show granulation tissue as the body attempts healing, and slough or eschar can be present, reflecting necrotic or dead tissue mixed with healing tissue. This combination confirms a deeper, full-thickness loss without exposure of deeper structures.

Understanding the progression helps: a description of partial-thickness loss involves only the epidermis or dermis (not the full thickness), which aligns with a Stage 2. A description of full-thickness loss with bone, muscle, or tendon visible points to Stage 4. An intact skin area with redness describes Stage 1.