Wound Care & Healing Flashcards

Which pressure injury stage involves full-thickness skin loss with visible fat but no exposed bone, tendon, or muscle?

Answer: Stage 3

Stage 3 pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss where subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon, and muscle are not exposed.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) promotes healing by all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer: Increasing bacterial load in the wound

NPWT reduces bacterial load in wounds; it does not increase it, making option C incorrect.

A diabetic patient presents with a plantar foot ulcer with callus surrounding the wound edges. The most appropriate initial intervention is:

Answer: Perform sharp debridement of the callus

Sharp debridement of surrounding callus removes hyperkeratotic tissue that traps pressure and inhibits wound edge migration.

Which topical agent is contraindicated in wounds that are healing by secondary intention due to cytotoxicity to fibroblasts?

Answer: Full-strength hydrogen peroxide

Full-strength hydrogen peroxide is cytotoxic to fibroblasts and granulation tissue and is contraindicated in healing wounds.

During wound assessment, the measurement of 3 cm x 4 cm refers to which dimensions by convention?

Answer: Length x Width

By convention, wound measurements are recorded as length (head-to-toe axis) x width (side-to-side axis).

What is the recommended moisture level for optimal wound healing?

Answer: Moist but not macerated

A moist wound environment accelerates epithelial cell migration and prevents desiccation, but excessive moisture causes maceration.

A wound with undermining is best described as tissue loss that extends:

Answer: Laterally beneath intact wound edges

Undermining refers to tissue destruction extending under the wound edges, creating a pocket beneath intact skin.