What defines a pressure injury?

A pressure injury is defined as localized damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue that typically occurs over a bony prominence as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear. This definition emphasizes that pressure injuries involve both skin and subcutaneous tissue damage, which can range from a mild reddening to extensive deep tissue injury. The key aspect is the localization of the damage and the specific mechanism of pressure leading to tissue injury.

While an open wound can be a characteristic of a pressure injury, not all pressure injuries present as open wounds initially; they often begin as non-blanchable erythema of intact skin. A pressure injury may also involve various degrees of skin breakdown, which may not always manifest as an open wound at the start. Thus, this choice does not fully encompass the complete definition.

Bony prominence areas are indeed common locations for pressure injuries, but simply identifying a bony prominence does not capture the process or consequences of pressure that lead to the injury.

Dead tissue can result from a pressure injury, but it is not the defining characteristic. Dead tissue refers to necrosis, which can be an after-effect or a complication of a pressure injury, not a standalone definition.

The correct answer captures the comprehensive nature of pressure injuries, making