How to Discover Deep Tissue Injury; Suspect the Unexpected

You may have heard the term ‘suspected deep tissue injury’ before without understanding what a deep tissue injury is and its implications in terms of wound management. If you have never heard the term before, or just need a quick review to refresh your memory, here is a brief description of deep tissue injury.

What is a suspected deep tissue injury?

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) defines a suspected deep tissue injury as:

• Intact or non-intact skin with localized area of persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon, purple discoloration or epidermal separation revealing a dark wound bed or blood filled blister.
• Pain and temperature change often precede skin color changes.
• The area may be preceded by tissue that is painful, firm, mushy, boggy, warmer or cooler as compared to adjacent tissue.

A deep tissue injury may be difficult to detect in people with darker skin tones.

What are the implications of a suspected deep tissue injury?

The problem with deep tissue injuries is that they are often misclassified and mismanaged. They often extend far deeper into the underlying tissue than may be initially suspected. They can evolve rapidly, exposing deeper tissue layers even when treatment is optimal.

[Tweet “The problem with deep tissue injuries is that they are often misclassified and mismanaged.”]

This is why NPUAP redefined the categories of pressure ulcer in 2007, adding the ‘suspected deep tissue injury’ and the ‘unstageable pressure ulcer’ categories. It was hoped that the addition of these categories would permit more accurate staging of pressure injuries. And it’s working to an extent- nurses and other healthcare professionals are now being educated on deep tissue injuries and the proper classification of pressure injuries.

Prompt identification and treatment of deep tissue injury is crucial, as these pressure injuries can rapidly evolve into ulcers involving all tissue layers. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations are being held accountable for these types of injuries, which can mean loss of revenue and extended hospital stays.

How can suspected deep tissue injuries be prevented?

Prevention of deep tissue injuries involves the same principles used to prevent all pressure ulcers, namely:

• risk assessment– assessment of all patients for the potential to develop pressure ulcers using an approved, valid and reliable assessment tool; identification and documentation of risk factors that put patients at risk for developing a pressure injury; and implementation of preventive measures based on risk assessment
• skin care– daily skin assessment; use of appropriate skin cleansing and moisturizing agents; and prompt attention to patients who are incontinent, including appropriate incontinence products and use of barrier creams
• nutrition– identification of patients who are at risk for poor/malnutrition and nutritional support where appropriate
• offloading and support surfaces– identification of the appropriate surface for bed-bound and wheelchair bound patients; frequent turning using a turning schedule for bedbound patients; appropriate use of lifting devices; offloading devices as appropriate; and measures/practices to prevent friction and shear
• education– pressure injury prevention programs for healthcare workers, patients and caregivers/family members  (NPUAP, 2007)

Education is perhaps the most important means of preventing deep tissue injuries. When we understand how pressure injuries occur, how to assess for their development, identify risk factors and understand how to mitigate these risks, and implement programs to prevent pressure ulcers, we will see far fewer of these devastating and highly preventable injuries.

To learn more about suspected deep tissue injuries and advanced wound care, consider taking our wound care certification course.  All of our courses are offered online and provide 24/7 access.  Register today!

Editors Note:  This post was originally published in December 2007 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Sources:
NPUAP Pressure Injury Stages http://www.npuap.org/resources/educational-and-clinical-resources/npuap-pressure-ulcer-stagescategories/Pressure Injury Prevention Points. NPUAP.org http://www.npuap.org/resources/educational-and-clinical-resources/pressure-ulcer-prevention-points/