MNT Wound Care & Debridement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the Wagner Wound Classification System, a Grade 2 diabetic foot ulcer is defined as:
- A pre-ulcerative lesion with intact skin
- A superficial ulcer without tendon, capsule, or bone involvement
- A deep ulcer penetrating to tendon, capsule, or bone without osteomyelitis (Correct answer)
- A localized gangrene of the toe or forefoot
Correct answer: A deep ulcer penetrating to tendon, capsule, or bone without osteomyelitis
Wagner Grade 2 ulcers extend deeply to tendon, joint capsule, or bone but have not yet developed osteomyelitis or abscess formation.
Question 2: Which of the following wound findings is NOT considered a sign requiring immediate referral to a physician?
- Increasing pain and peri-wound tenderness
- Mild pinkness confined to the immediate wound edges (Correct answer)
- Foul odor accompanied by purulent discharge
- Red streaking extending proximally from the wound
Correct answer: Mild pinkness confined to the immediate wound edges
Mild pinkness at wound edges can represent normal granulation or low-grade inflammation; in contrast, streaking, pus, and escalating pain indicate active infection requiring referral.
Question 3: In wound care, the term 'offloading' refers to:
- Removing exudate from a wound using an absorbent dressing
- Redistributing pressure away from a wound to allow healing (Correct answer)
- Debriding devitalized tissue from the wound bed
- Transferring a patient to a higher level of wound care
Correct answer: Redistributing pressure away from a wound to allow healing
Offloading uses devices such as total contact casts, therapeutic footwear, or orthotics to redirect mechanical pressure away from the wound site.
Question 4: What does the first-aid acronym RICE stand for?
- Rinse, Irrigate, Cover, Elevate
- Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (Correct answer)
- Reduce, Immobilize, Cleanse, Examine
- Rehydrate, Inspect, Cover, Evaluate
Correct answer: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is the standard initial management protocol for acute soft tissue injuries to minimize swelling and pain.
Question 5: The standard method for documenting wound dimensions during a nail care visit is:
- Classifying the wound as small, medium, or large
- Measuring length × width × depth in centimeters (Correct answer)
- Photographing the wound without recording numeric measurements
- Recording wound color and texture descriptors only
Correct answer: Measuring length × width × depth in centimeters
Measuring length, width, and depth in centimeters provides objective, comparable data to track wound progress or deterioration across visits.
Question 6: Which wound presentation requires IMMEDIATE referral and must NOT be treated by a medical nail technician?
- A heel callus with minor superficial fissuring
- A superficial friction blister on the plantar surface
- An open ulcer with visible tendon or bone at the wound base (Correct answer)
- Thickened, mildly discolored toenails without open lesions
Correct answer: An open ulcer with visible tendon or bone at the wound base
Exposed tendon or bone at a wound base (Wagner Grade 2 or higher) indicates deep tissue involvement requiring physician management and possible hospitalization.
Question 7: A calcium alginate dressing is most appropriate for which wound type?
- A dry, eschar-covered wound requiring added moisture
- A heavily exuding wound requiring high-level absorption (Correct answer)
- A closed post-surgical incision
- A superficial abrasion with minimal drainage
Correct answer: A heavily exuding wound requiring high-level absorption
Calcium alginate dressings are highly absorbent fibers derived from seaweed; they are designed for moderate-to-heavy exuding wounds, converting to a gel on contact with wound fluid.
MNT Wound Care & Debridement 2
In the Wagner Wound Classification System, a Grade 2 diabetic foot ulcer is defined as: