Marcus Lee is a 34-year-old male admitted after a motorcycle accident resulting in a thoracic spinal cord injury (T6). He reports paralysis from the waist down and relies on staff for turning and transfers. Marcus reports decreased sensation in the buttocks and lower extremities. Over the last 48 hours, Marcus has had multiple episodes of bowel and bladder incontinence due to neurogenic dysfunction. His linens were noted to be damp overnight. Marcus has not been eating well, consuming only 30-40% of meals. His albumin level is low, and he has lost weight over the past month. During the nurse's skin assessment of the sacral area, the following is observed: A shallow open area with a pink wound bed Partial-thickness skin loss involving the epidermis and part of the dermis No slough visible Surrounding erythema Medical history includes: Newly diagnosed neurogenic bladder and bowel Paraplegia MVA What stage is this pressure injury?

A. Stage IV: This stage involves full-thickness skin and tissue loss with exposed fascia, muscle, tendon, ligament, or bone. The case description specifies only partial-thickness loss involving the epidermis and dermis. There is no mention of deep tissue exposure in Marcus. B. Stage I: A stage I pressure injury is characterized by non-blanchable erythema of intact skin. The assessment of Marcus identifies a shallow open area, which indicates a break in skin integrity. Therefore, the injury has progressed beyond the initial stage of redness. C. Stage II: This stage is defined by partial-thickness loss of the dermis, presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed. The absence of slough or bruising is consistent with this classification. Marcus's assessment findings perfectly align with these specific criteria. D. Stage III: Stage III involves full-thickness skin loss where adipose tissue is visible in the ulcer. The description of Marcus's wound as a shallow open area confirms it has not penetrated the subcutaneous layer. It remains restricted to the upper cutaneous layers. E. Deep Tissue Pressure Injury (DTPI): This injury presents as a localized area of persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon, or purple discoloration. Marcus's wound bed is described as pink and open, which contradicts the intact, dark discoloration seen in DTPI. The mechanics of his injury are superficial.