CST Wound Closure & Healing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which suture technique produces the most cosmetically acceptable scar with minimal cross-hatch marks?
- Interrupted sutures
- Subcuticular (intradermal) suture (Correct answer)
- Figure-of-eight sutures
- Vertical mattress sutures
Correct answer: Subcuticular (intradermal) suture
The subcuticular suture runs beneath the skin surface, avoiding percutaneous punctures and eliminating cross-hatch scarring.
Question 2: A patient develops a keloid after surgery. This is BEST described as:
- Normal scar remodeling
- Excessive collagen deposition extending beyond wound margins (Correct answer)
- Insufficient collagen production during healing
- A sign of wound infection
Correct answer: Excessive collagen deposition extending beyond wound margins
Keloids result from overproduction of collagen that grows beyond the original wound boundaries, unlike hypertrophic scars which stay within the wound margins.
Question 3: When passing a needle holder loaded with suture to the surgeon, the scrub technologist should:
- Place it on the sterile field for the surgeon to pick up
- Pass it handle-first with the needle pointing away (Correct answer)
- Hand it needle-first to speed closure
- Pass it with the needle unclamped
Correct answer: Pass it handle-first with the needle pointing away
Suture is passed handle-first with the needle pointing away from both the surgeon's and technologist's hands to prevent needlestick injury.
Question 4: Which type of wound closure material works by using tissue adhesive (cyanoacrylate) to bond wound edges?
- Staples
- Dermabond (Correct answer)
- Steri-strips
- Prolene suture
Correct answer: Dermabond
Dermabond is a topical skin adhesive made of cyanoacrylate that polymerizes on contact with tissue to close superficial wounds.
Question 5: The MOST important factor that delays wound healing in a diabetic patient is:
- Elevated blood pressure
- Impaired microvascular circulation and neuropathy (Correct answer)
- Increased body weight
- Use of insulin therapy
Correct answer: Impaired microvascular circulation and neuropathy
Diabetes impairs microvascular function and neuropathy reduces sensation, both of which compromise oxygen and nutrient delivery to healing tissue.
Question 6: Which suture needle type is used for suturing bowel or other delicate hollow viscera?
- Cutting needle
- Reverse cutting needle
- Taper (round) needle (Correct answer)
- Blunt needle
Correct answer: Taper (round) needle
Taper (round) needles penetrate tissue by separating fibers without cutting, reducing the risk of tearing fragile hollow organs.
Question 7: Wound dehiscence refers to:
- Infection spreading beneath a wound
- Partial or complete separation of wound edges (Correct answer)
- Excessive granulation tissue formation
- Hematoma formation under a sutured wound
Correct answer: Partial or complete separation of wound edges
Dehiscence is the separation of wound edges following surgical closure, which can occur due to infection, poor nutrition, or excess tension.
CST Wound Closure & Healing 3
Which suture technique produces the most cosmetically acceptable scar with minimal cross-hatch marks?