What describes a Deep Tissue Injury (DTI)?

• A. A pressure injury with non-blanchable erythema
• B. A pressure injury characterized by purple or maroon discoloration or a blood-filled blister
• C. A pressure injury with yellow slough
• D. A pressure injury with exposed bone

Answer: (B)

The main concept being tested is how a Deep Tissue Injury presents. A Deep Tissue Injury shows up as a localized area of persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon, or purple discoloration or as a blood-filled blister, which indicates damage to the underlying soft tissue from pressure and/or shear even if the surface skin looks intact. That color change signals tissue injury beneath the skin, and the area may start small and evolve as the underlying tissue breaks down or more tissue loss becomes evident.

Think about what each sign means for tissue depth: non-blanchable erythema describes redness on intact skin without deeper involvement, which is typical of Stage I; yellow slough is necrotic tissue in the wound bed, not the specific indicator of a DTI; exposed bone means full-thickness tissue loss with involvement of deeper structures, which reflects a more advanced stage.