Final answer:
A Stage III pressure ulcer, such as a bedsore, is characterized by full-thickness skin loss and necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue, without any damage to the underlying muscle and bone. In contrast, stages I and II are less severe, and stage IV is more severe, with damage extending to muscle and bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
In medical terms, a stage III pressure ulcer, also known as a bedsore or decubitis ulcer, is identified by the presence of full-thickness skin loss and damages to the dermis and subcutaneous tissue layers but not extending to the underlying muscle or bone. Specifically, the indication that a pressure ulcer on a client's sacrum has developed into a stage III is the necrosis of subcutaneous tissue (i.e., tissue death due to inadequate blood supply) without any damage to the muscle and bone. In contrast, a stage I pressure ulcer may be characterized by non-blanchable erythema of intact skin, while in a stage II pressure ulcer, there may be partial loss of dermis. Now moving on, a stage IV pressure ulcer extends beyond the subcutaneous tissue, impacting muscle and even bone.
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