What is a stage 3 pressure area?
In a stage 3 pressure area there will be full thickness skin loss, involving damage or death of subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through, underlying tissues and muscles.
The area presents clinically as a deep crater, with or without undermining of adjacent tissue.
The edges of the wound are usually irregular and may or may not be attached to the side or bottom of the area. If they are not attached, it is known as 'undermining'. Undermining is a separation of the tissues beyond the wound edges under the skin.
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