A postoperative abdominal surgery patient has been admitted to the surgical floor. The nurse is aware that wound healing is delayed due to complications.
Which conditions would prevent normal wound healing at the surgical site?

(Select all that apply.)

Choice A rationale:

Stage 2 pressure injuries are characterized by partial-thickness loss of skin layers involving the epidermis and/or dermis. They present as a red, blistered area, often with an intact or ruptured serum-filled blister. The wound bed is typically moist and may be painful. There is no exposure of underlying bone, tendon, or muscle.

Key features of Stage 2 pressure injuries that align with the patient's presentation:

Red, blistered area: This is a hallmark sign of Stage 2, indicating tissue damage and inflammation in the epidermis and dermis. Large size: The size of the wound suggests more extensive tissue damage, consistent with Stage 2 rather than Stage 1.

Absence of deeper tissue involvement: The absence of exposed bone, tendon, or muscle rules out Stage 3 or 4 pressure injuries.

Rationales for other choices:

Choice B: Stage 4

Stage 4 pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. This is not consistent with the patient's presentation, which does not describe exposed deeper tissues.

Choice C: Stage 3

Stage 3 pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss, but without exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. They often present with a deep crater-like appearance and may have undermining or tunneling. The patient's wound does not exhibit these features, making Stage 3 less likely.

Choice D: Stage 1

Stage 1 pressure injuries are characterized by intact skin with non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence. They do not involve blisters or open wounds. The patient's presentation clearly exceeds the features of Stage 1.

Choice A rationale:

Indurated describes tissue that is hardened and thickened, typically due to inflammation or fibrosis. While a decubitus ulcer with thick necrotic tissue may feel firm to the touch, induration does not accurately capture the extent of tissue damage and depth of the wound.

Indurated tissue often feels leathery or stiff, while necrotic tissue can be more varied in texture, ranging from dry and crusty to soft and sloughy.

Additionally, induration can occur in wounds that are not full-thickness ulcers, such as pressure injuries that have not yet progressed to the point of tissue loss.

Choice B rationale:

Fluctuant describes a fluid-filled cavity beneath the skin. While a decubitus ulcer with thick necrotic tissue may have some underlying fluid, it would not typically be described as fluctuant.

Fluctuance is more characteristic of abscesses or other fluid collections that have a distinct, palpable pocket of fluid.

The presence of thick necrotic tissue in a decubitus ulcer can obscure the presence of any underlying fluid, making it difficult to assess for fluctuance.

Choice D rationale:

Macerated describes skin that is softened and broken down due to prolonged exposure to moisture. While maceration can occur in the surrounding skin of a decubitus ulcer, it does not accurately describe the ulcer itself.

Maceration is typically seen in areas where skin folds rub together, such as the groin or armpits, and is often associated with incontinence or excessive sweating.

The presence of thick necrotic tissue in a decubitus ulcer indicates a more advanced stage of tissue damage that is not simply due to moisture exposure.

Choice C rationale:

Unstageable is the most accurate term to describe a decubitus ulcer with thick necrotic tissue because it indicates that the extent of tissue damage cannot be fully assessed.

Thick necrotic tissue obscures the base of the wound and the surrounding tissue, making it impossible to determine the depth of the ulcer or the extent of undermining.

This lack of visibility prevents accurate staging of the ulcer using the traditional pressure ulcer staging system, which categorizes ulcers based on their depth and extent of tissue involvement.

Therefore, unstageable is the most appropriate term to describe a decubitus ulcer with thick necrotic tissue.