Wound Care & Edema Management Flashcards
7 cards from real CHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Wound Care & Edema Management flashcards as text
Which dressing type is most appropriate for a heavily exudating hand wound?
Answer: Calcium alginate dressing
Calcium alginate dressings have high absorption capacity, making them ideal for heavily exudating wounds, and they form a gel when saturated that maintains a moist environment.
When using volumetric water displacement for serial edema measurements, what environmental factor must remain consistent?
Answer: Water temperature
Consistent water temperature is essential for volumetric measurements to ensure validity and reliability when comparing serial measurements across sessions.
Scar management interventions following hand trauma should typically be initiated:
Answer: Once the wound is fully epithelialized and closed
Scar management with compression and silicone can begin once wound closure is achieved to influence early scar remodeling before collagen fully matures and becomes resistant to change.
Which measurement technique provides the most reliable tracking of individual digit edema over time?
Answer: Circumferential tape measurement at consistent anatomical landmarks
Circumferential tape measurements at consistent anatomical landmarks on each digit provide reliable, reproducible tracking of individual digit edema across treatment sessions.
When wrapping a hand with a compressive bandage for edema management, which area should remain exposed to monitor circulatory status?
Answer: The fingertips
Fingertips must remain exposed to allow monitoring of circulation, skin color, temperature, and capillary refill to detect excessive compression that could compromise blood flow.
What is the primary mechanism by which compression garments reduce hand edema?
Answer: Counteracting capillary filtration pressure to prevent fluid reaccumulation
Compression garments apply external pressure that counteracts the hydrostatic and oncotic forces driving fluid out of blood vessels into interstitial spaces, preventing edema reaccumulation.
Which type of wound debridement is most selective, removing only necrotic tissue while preserving viable healthy tissue?
Answer: Autolytic debridement
Autolytic debridement uses the body's own endogenous enzymes under a moisture-retentive dressing to selectively liquefy and remove necrotic tissue while sparing healthy tissue.