Vascular disorders: pressure ulcer staging: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Vascular disorders: pressure ulcer staging

Sample item

A bedridden patient has a shallow open sacral ulcer with a pink wound bed and loss of partial-thickness dermis, with no slough or visible fat. Which stage is this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Stage 2 pressure injury

Stage 2 pressure injury is partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis, a shallow open ulcer or an intact blister, and no slough. Stage 1 is non-blanchable erythema of intact skin, stage 3 shows full-thickness loss with visible fat, and stage 4 exposes muscle or bone. Offloading and moisture management are core measures.

Option by option

  • A. Stage 1 pressure injury

    Stage 1 has intact skin with non-blanchable erythema.

  • B. Stage 3 pressure injury

    Stage 3 shows subcutaneous fat.

  • C. Stage 2 pressure injury (correct)

    Correct. Partial-thickness dermal loss without slough is stage 2.

  • D. Stage 4 pressure injury

    Stage 4 exposes muscle, tendon or bone.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, Stage 2 pressure injury. Stage 2 pressure injury is partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis, a shallow open ulcer or an intact blister, and no slough.

Why is "Stage 1 pressure injury" not the answer?

Stage 1 has intact skin with non-blanchable erythema.

Why is "Stage 3 pressure injury" not the answer?

Stage 3 shows subcutaneous fat.

Why is "Stage 4 pressure injury" not the answer?

Stage 4 exposes muscle, tendon or bone.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular disorders: pressure ulcer staging in Dermatology. Stage 1 is non-blanchable erythema of intact skin, stage 3 shows full-thickness loss with visible fat, and stage 4 exposes muscle or bone. Offloading and moisture management are core measures.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vascular disorders: pressure ulcer staging?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.