pressure injury
Localised damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue, typically over a bony prominence, caused by prolonged pressure or pressure combined with shear forces; the current preferred term in geriatric and wound-care documentation.
Full Definition
Pressure injury (formerly termed 'pressure ulcer' or 'decubitus ulcer') is the internationally preferred term adopted by the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) in 2016 to encompass both open and intact skin damage caused by sustained pressure, shear, or friction. In geriatric rehabilitation, immobile or cognitively impaired patients carry a high risk of pressure injury, and prevention strategies are a core component of nursing care plans. Editors must update documents that still use the outdated terms 'pressure sore' or 'decubitus ulcer' unless there is a clinical or legal reason to retain the older terminology. Staging (Stage 1–4, Unstageable, Deep Tissue Pressure Injury) should be accurately transcribed.
Usage
Usage note: 'Pressure injury' is the current preferred term; 'pressure ulcer' and 'decubitus ulcer' are outdated but may appear in older records. Flag use of 'bedsore' in formal documentation for replacement. Staging nomenclature (Stage 1, 2, 3, 4) should be capitalised.
In Context
- "The wound care nurse classified the sacral lesion as a Stage 2 pressure injury and updated the care plan accordingly." — Nursing wound assessment note
- "The rehabilitation unit's quality report tracked pressure injury incidence as a key safety indicator." — Quality and safety report