Which description best represents a Stage 3 pressure injury?

• A. Full thickness tissue loss with subcutaneous fat visible, but bone, tendon, or muscle is not exposed
• B. Bone and muscle exposed
• C. Only superficial epidermal loss
• D. Undermining with tendon exposure

Answer: (A)

Tissue loss that goes through the full thickness of the skin into the subcutaneous tissue is the hallmark of this stage. When you can see subcutaneous fat and the wound depth extends beyond the epidermis and dermis, but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed, that matches Stage 3. This distinguishes it from deeper-stage injuries where bone or muscle is visible, and from earlier-stage injuries that involve only the epidermis or dermis. The wound bed at this stage can be granulating and may have undermining, and slough may be present without obscuring depth.