Applicability of Ultrasonography for the Assessment and Classification of Deep Tissue Injury: A Scoping Review

Objective: This scoping review aims to map the use of ultrasonography to assessment and classification of Deep Tissue Injury. Introduction: Ultrasound (USG) is a non-invasive, non-ionizing radiation imaging technology that is widespread in healthcare services. Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a feasible and effective technology, used since the 1990s, it allows non-specialist professionals to use USG at the bedside. In addition to providing guidance to guide procedures, as well as assisting the care team in decision-making and therapeutic conduct. In this context, ultrasonography can be used as a technological tool that functions as an extension of the nursing physical examination, supporting the confirmation of health problems or clinical situations that require intervention. By providing real-time images of tissues beneath the skin, this technology enhances clinical judgment and supports more accurate nursing therapeutic decision-making. Consequently, its use is particularly promising for the assessment and classification of deep tissue injuries, as it enables the early identification of tissue alterations that are not detectable through visual inspection alone, thereby facilitating timely and evidence-based interventions. Inclusion Criteria: We will include: (1) primary and secondary studies; (2) studies that address the use of ultrasonography to assess and classification of Tissue Injury in all states; (3) studies that describe nursing interventions that use ultrasonography to evaluate the skin and damages; (4) with no restriction on the year of publication. Exclusion Criteria: We will exclude: (1) studies that do not address the use of ultrasonography to evaluate or classification of skin or tissue damages; (2) conference reports, expert opinion, book chapters and abstracts and reviews without defined methodology. Methods: The searches will be performed on electronic databases, gray literature, and on the reference list of included studies. The protocol will be written following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist and the JBI Collaboration and will be registered on the OSF platform. Studies extracted from the databases will be uploaded to the EndNote web for storage and removal of duplicates. These studies will then be uploaded to Rayyan's web application, where phases 1 (screening of titles and abstracts) and 2 (full reading of studies) will be performed by two independent reviewers. A third independent reviewer will be requested in the event of a disagreement between the two main reviewers regarding the inclusion/exclusion of the study. Results: - Conclusion: - KEY WORDS: Evidence-based nursing; Ultrasonography; Point-of-care ultrasound; POCUS; Deep tissue injury.