Stage III ulcer involves what?

• A. Partial-thickness skin loss
• B. Full-thickness skin loss with possible subcutaneous tissue
• C. Non-blanchable erythema
• D. Full-thickness tissue loss with exposure of bone

Answer: (B)

Stage III ulcers involve full-thickness tissue loss through the epidermis and dermis with the potential of exposing subcutaneous tissue. The key is that the tissue loss goes deeper than superficial skin layers but does not yet expose bone, tendon, or muscle. That’s why the wound may show subcutaneous fat and a crater-like appearance, but no exposed bone or tendon.

This differs from partial-thickness loss (Stage II), which only involves epidermis and part of the dermis; non-blanchable erythema (Stage I), which is intact skin with redness; and full-thickness loss with exposed bone or other deeper structures (Stage IV), which indicates exposure of bone, tendon, or muscle.