PRESSURE ULCER/INJURY CLASSIFICATION

Classification systems have been developed to describe the extent of tissue damage and to aid communication through documentation. The EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA 2019 Pressure Ulcer/Injury Classification has been widely adopted and is outlined in the text. When assessing a pressure ulcer/injury, it is important to use a pressure ulcer grading tool to measure the severity of the injury objectively.

Pressure ulcers/injuries can be classified, categorised, graded or staged. To use a classification scale effectively, the practitioner using the scale must have an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the skin (see Module One) and an understanding of the scale itself.

The EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA (2019) classification system stages pressure ulcers/injuries.