Wound Care & Debridement Flashcards
7 cards from real MNT 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 & Debridement flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of debridement in medical nail care?
Answer: To remove necrotic, infected, or damaged tissue to promote healing
Debridement removes necrotic, infected, or damaged tissue to create an environment that supports wound healing.
Which type of debridement uses enzyme preparations to selectively break down and remove necrotic tissue?
Answer: Enzymatic debridement
Enzymatic debridement uses topical agents such as collagenase to digest necrotic tissue while sparing viable tissue.
Which solution is most appropriate for wound irrigation during a nail care procedure?
Answer: Normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride)
Normal saline is isotonic and non-cytotoxic, making it the preferred irrigant for wound cleansing without damaging healthy tissue.
Autolytic debridement works by which mechanism?
Answer: Allowing the body's own enzymes and moisture to selectively liquefy dead tissue
Autolytic debridement relies on the body's naturally occurring phagocytic cells and endogenous enzymes, facilitated by a moist occlusive dressing, to break down necrotic material.
A patient presents with a foot wound showing purulent drainage, surrounding erythema, warmth, and red streaking up the leg. The most appropriate action is to:
Answer: Refer the patient immediately to a physician or emergency care
Purulent drainage, erythema, warmth, and lymphangitic streaking indicate a serious wound infection that is beyond the nail technician's scope and requires urgent physician evaluation.
Which type of wound dressing is most appropriate for a dry, eschar-covered wound to facilitate autolytic debridement?
Answer: Hydrogel or hydrocolloid dressing
Hydrogel and hydrocolloid dressings donate or retain moisture at the wound surface, softening dry eschar and enabling autolytic debridement.
When performing nail debridement on a patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the technician should:
Answer: Use light, conservative debridement and avoid cutting below the nail margins
PAD impairs tissue perfusion and healing capacity; conservative debridement minimizes the risk of creating wounds that may not close.