Skin and Wound Healing Flashcards

Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) can be caused by all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer: Mechanical friction from turning

MASD is caused by prolonged skin exposure to moisture sources such as urine, feces, wound exudate, or perspiration; friction causes mechanical skin injury, not MASD.

The skin pH of a healthy adult is approximately:

Answer: 4.5–5.5 (mildly acidic)

Healthy skin has a mildly acidic surface pH of approximately 4.5–5.5, which inhibits pathogen colonization and supports the skin's resident microbiome.

Skin tears are classified by the Payne-Martin or ISTAP classification based on:

Answer: Presence or absence of a skin flap and its viability

The ISTAP classification categorizes skin tears based on whether a skin flap is present, whether it can cover the wound base, and whether it is viable, guiding treatment approach.

In a patient with suspected skin cancer on the lower extremity presenting as a non-healing wound, the WOC nurse should:

Answer: Refer for biopsy and dermatology or oncology evaluation

Any chronic non-healing wound that fails to respond to standard treatment must be referred for tissue biopsy to rule out malignancy, including squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin's ulcer).

Which vitamin is essential for collagen cross-linking and deficiency of which directly impairs wound healing?

Answer: Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a required cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase enzymes that cross-link collagen fibers; deficiency causes impaired collagen synthesis and poor wound healing (scurvy).

The role of zinc in wound healing is to:

Answer: Support collagen synthesis, immune function, and epithelialization

Zinc is a cofactor for DNA polymerase and numerous enzymes involved in collagen synthesis, immune cell function, and epithelial cell proliferation, making it essential for wound repair.