Wound Care & Healing Flashcards

Which systemic condition most significantly impairs wound healing by causing peripheral neuropathy and reduced angiogenesis?

Answer: Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus impairs wound healing through peripheral neuropathy, reduced angiogenesis, impaired leukocyte function, and altered collagen synthesis.

The gold standard debridement method that allows selective tissue removal under direct visualization is:

Answer: Sharp/surgical debridement

Sharp or surgical debridement allows precise removal of devitalized tissue under direct visualization and is considered the gold standard.

When using the clock method to document wound tunneling, 12 o'clock is oriented toward the patient's:

Answer: Head

By convention, 12 o'clock in wound assessment represents the direction toward the patient's head (superior).

A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy is at increased risk for impaired wound healing because steroids:

Answer: Suppress the inflammatory response and collagen synthesis

Corticosteroids suppress inflammation, inhibit fibroblast proliferation, and reduce collagen synthesis, all of which delay wound healing.

Which type of wound closure involves placing sutures or staples to reapproximate wound edges immediately after injury?

Answer: Primary intention closure

Primary intention closure involves immediate surgical closure of clean wound edges, resulting in minimal scarring.

Which vitamin deficiency most directly impairs collagen cross-linking and is associated with poor wound healing?

Answer: Vitamin C

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis; deficiency causes impaired collagen cross-linking.

A wound with purulent drainage, periwound erythema extending more than 2 cm, warmth, and fever most likely indicates:

Answer: Wound infection

Purulent drainage combined with spreading erythema >2 cm, warmth, and systemic signs like fever indicates wound infection requiring treatment.