Pinch Test and Dehydration Assessment

The pinch test (skin turgor test) is a common clinical assessment used to estimate dehydration. It evaluates how quickly the skin returns to normal after being pinched.

Question

Utilizing the pinch test to estimate dehydration, skin that returns to normal in 5 seconds after a pinch indicates what degree of dehydration?

• <5%
• 7% 
• 9%
• >10% (Correct)

Explanation

Rationale:

• In the skin pinch (turgor) test, a return time of 5 seconds indicates severe dehydration.

• Severe dehydration is typically estimated as greater than 10% fluid loss.

✔️ Therefore, the correct answer is >10%.  link