Pressure Injury
Localised damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue, usually over a bony prominence, caused by sustained pressure, shear, or friction in patients with reduced mobility.
Full Definition
A pressure injury (formerly termed 'pressure ulcer' or 'decubitus ulcer') is a significant complication managed within physical medicine and rehabilitation, particularly in patients with spinal cord injury, stroke, or prolonged bed rest. The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) staging system (Stages I–IV, plus unstageable and deep tissue pressure injury) is the standard classification used in clinical documentation. Editors working on rehabilitation nursing notes, case reports, or quality improvement documents must use the current term 'pressure injury' rather than the outdated 'pressure ulcer' or 'bedsore', and must apply staging terminology precisely.
Usage
Usage note: The preferred current term is 'pressure injury'. Flag 'pressure ulcer', 'decubitus ulcer', and 'bedsore' as outdated in formal documents.
In Context
- "A Stage III pressure injury over the sacrum was identified during the weekly skin inspection and documented in the rehabilitation nursing note." — Inpatient rehabilitation nursing note
- "Editors should replace all instances of 'pressure ulcer' with 'pressure injury' in line with current NPIAP terminology." — Editorial style note