Wound Care Certification Lower Extremity Wound Management Flashcards
7 cards from real Wound Care Certification Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
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Which characteristic is most typical of an arterial (ischemic) ulcer of the lower extremity?
Answer: Pale, well-defined 'punched-out' margins with minimal exudate
Arterial ulcers have pale, well-defined 'punched-out' margins with minimal exudate because reduced blood flow limits tissue perfusion and wound moisture.
An ankle-brachial index (ABI) of 0.55 in a patient with a lower extremity wound most accurately indicates:
Answer: Moderate to severe peripheral arterial disease
An ABI of 0.4–0.6 indicates moderate to severe peripheral arterial disease; values below 0.5 suggest critical limb ischemia requiring urgent vascular evaluation.
Which anatomical location is most typical for venous stasis ulcers?
Answer: Medial malleolus and gaiter area of the lower leg
Venous ulcers most commonly occur in the gaiter area around the medial malleolus due to the highest concentration of venous hypertension in that region.
Which physical finding is most consistent with chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremity?
Answer: Lipodermatosclerosis and hemosiderin staining
Lipodermatosclerosis (subcutaneous fibrosis) and hemosiderin staining (brown discoloration) are hallmarks of chronic venous insufficiency from red blood cell extravasation.
A patient with a venous leg ulcer has an ABI of 0.82. What is the most appropriate first-line treatment?
Answer: Compression therapy with 30–40 mmHg sustained compression
An ABI of 0.82 indicates adequate arterial perfusion, making full-strength compression therapy (30–40 mmHg) the appropriate evidence-based first-line treatment for venous ulcers.
Which diagnostic study is considered the gold standard for evaluating peripheral arterial disease anatomy prior to intervention?
Answer: Arteriography (catheter-based angiography)
Catheter-based arteriography remains the gold standard for anatomical mapping of peripheral arterial disease due to its superior spatial resolution and simultaneous intervention capability.
Dependent rubor of the lower extremity, where the skin turns deep red when the limb is lowered, is a sign of:
Answer: Severe arterial insufficiency
Dependent rubor indicates severe arterial insufficiency; maximal vasodilation occurs at rest to maintain perfusion, and redness appears when gravity assists blood flow to the ischemic limb.