MNT Wound Care & Debridement 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of debridement in medical nail care?
- To apply topical medications directly to the nail plate
- To remove necrotic, infected, or damaged tissue to promote healing (Correct answer)
- To shape the nail for aesthetic improvement
- To strengthen weakened nail structures with a protective coating
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which type of debridement uses enzyme preparations to selectively break down and remove necrotic tissue?
- Mechanical debridement
- Surgical debridement
- Enzymatic debridement (Correct answer)
- Autolytic debridement
Correct answer: Enzymatic debridement
Enzymatic debridement uses topical agents such as collagenase to digest necrotic tissue while sparing viable tissue.
Question 3: Which solution is most appropriate for wound irrigation during a nail care procedure?
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Povidone-iodine (full strength)
- Normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) (Correct answer)
- 70% isopropyl alcohol
Correct 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.
Question 4: Autolytic debridement works by which mechanism?
- Using sharp instruments to excise necrotic tissue
- Applying chemical agents to dissolve slough
- Allowing the body's own enzymes and moisture to selectively liquefy dead tissue (Correct answer)
- Removing tissue through repeated wet-to-dry dressing changes
Correct 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.
Question 5: 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:
- Perform mechanical debridement and apply a triple antibiotic ointment
- Apply a moisture-retentive dressing and schedule a follow-up in two weeks
- Refer the patient immediately to a physician or emergency care (Correct answer)
- Soak the foot in warm epsom salt water for 20 minutes before treatment
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which type of wound dressing is most appropriate for a dry, eschar-covered wound to facilitate autolytic debridement?
- Dry gauze dressing changed twice daily
- Hydrogel or hydrocolloid dressing (Correct answer)
- Calcium alginate dressing
- Dry foam dressing without adhesive border
Correct answer: Hydrogel or hydrocolloid dressing
Hydrogel and hydrocolloid dressings donate or retain moisture at the wound surface, softening dry eschar and enabling autolytic debridement.
Question 7: When performing nail debridement on a patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the technician should:
- Use aggressive mechanical debridement to fully clear thickened nail tissue in one visit
- Apply heat packs to the foot before treatment to increase local circulation
- Use light, conservative debridement and avoid cutting below the nail margins (Correct answer)
- Soak the feet for 30 minutes to soften tissue prior to any debridement
Correct 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.
MNT Wound Care & Debridement 1
What is the primary purpose of debridement in medical nail care?