OSCE Wound Care and Dressings 4

Question 1

A patient has an exuding wound where the previous dressing has dried and adhered to the wound bed. The correct method to remove it is:

Accepted Answer

Soak with normal saline until it releases freely

Answer

Soaking an adherent dressing with normal saline allows atraumatic removal, preventing disruption of newly formed granulation tissue.

Question 2

Which wound measurement technique is used to determine wound volume in irregular or cavity wounds?

Accepted Answer

Wound molds or saline fill method

Answer

Volume of cavity wounds is measured by gently filling the wound with saline using a syringe, providing a quantifiable measure of wound depth and volume.

Question 3

A patient on long-term steroids has poor wound healing. The PRIMARY reason for this is:

Accepted Answer

Steroids suppress the inflammatory phase essential for healing

Answer

Corticosteroids inhibit the inflammatory phase of wound healing by suppressing cytokine release and neutrophil and macrophage function.

Question 4

Silver-containing dressings are BEST indicated for:

Accepted Answer

Infected or critically colonized wounds requiring antimicrobial action

Answer

Silver has broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and is indicated for infected, critically colonized, or high-risk wounds, but should be discontinued once infection resolves.

Question 5

During wound assessment, a foul odor is detected. The MOST likely cause specific to wound pathology (not dressing material) is:

Accepted Answer

Anaerobic bacterial infection or necrotic tissue breakdown

Answer

Foul wound odor typically indicates anaerobic bacterial colonization or infection, or necrotic tissue breakdown producing volatile fatty acids.

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Wound Care and Dressings 4