Stage 4 Pressure Sore
A Stage 4 pressure sore is the most serious type of pressure sore. The severe damage to the skin and tissue creates a wound which now extends into the muscle and in some instances can be present all the way to the bone. Usually dead tissue and drainage are present. Infection can occur easily at this stage.
Characteristics of a Stage 4 Pressure Sore include:
- Full thickness tissue loss with with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.
- Slough, eschar, or necrotic tissue can be present on some parts of ulcer.
- Often undermining & tunneling present.
- The depth of a Stage IV pressure ulcer varies by anatomical location. The bridge of the nose, ear, occiput and and malleoulus do not have subcutaneous tissue and the se ulcer can be shallow.
As with a Stage III pressure sore, treatments can be difficult to administer and healing may be extremely slow. Surgery is frequently required at this stage of pressure sore.
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