What is a common indicator of healing in pressure ulcers?

Granulation tissue formation is a key indicator of healing in pressure ulcers. This type of tissue is characterized by a moist, pink, or red appearance and is made up of new connective tissue and blood vessels that fill a wound during the healing process. The presence of granulation tissue signals that the wound is moving through the healing phases, particularly transitioning from the inflammatory phase to the proliferative phase, where tissue regeneration occurs.

As the body works to heal the pressure ulcer, granulation tissue provides a foundation for further skin repair and indicates that the body's healing response is active and effective. The development of this tissue is crucial for the closure of the wound, as it helps to protect deeper structures and provides a scaffold for epithelial cells to migrate and cover the surface, ultimately leading to complete healing.

Other choices, while they might be related to the wound healing process, do not serve as reliable indicators of healing in the same way. Increased temperature might suggest inflammation or infection. Decreased pain sensation can occur for various reasons and does not specifically indicate healing; it could signal nerve damage or diminished sensation. Darkening of the wound edges may indicate necrosis or other issues rather than a positive sign of healing. Thus, granulation tissue formation is the clear marker for assessing healing