NCWO Wound Care Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Moist wound healing is preferred over dry wound healing primarily because it:
- Reduces wound odor and bacterial counts
- Promotes cell migration and reduces pain during dressing changes (Correct answer)
- Eliminates the need for debridement
- Prevents all wound infections
Correct answer: Promotes cell migration and reduces pain during dressing changes
A moist wound environment accelerates epithelial cell migration, supports growth factor activity, and reduces trauma and pain during dressing removal.
Question 2: Autolytic debridement is best facilitated by which dressing type?
- Dry gauze
- Calcium alginate
- Hydrocolloid or hydrogel (Correct answer)
- Antimicrobial silver foam
Correct answer: Hydrocolloid or hydrogel
Hydrocolloid and hydrogel dressings maintain moisture, allowing the body's own enzymes and phagocytes to liquefy and remove necrotic tissue through autolysis.
Question 3: Which debridement method is considered the fastest and most selective for removing large amounts of necrotic tissue?
- Autolytic
- Enzymatic
- Mechanical (wet-to-dry)
- Sharp/surgical (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sharp/surgical
Sharp or surgical debridement is the most rapid and selective method, allowing precise removal of necrotic tissue while sparing viable tissue.
Question 4: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is contraindicated in wounds with:
- Excessive exudate production
- Exposed blood vessels, organs, or anastomotic sites (Correct answer)
- Tunneling or undermining
- Granulation tissue in the wound bed
Correct answer: Exposed blood vessels, organs, or anastomotic sites
NPWT is contraindicated when blood vessels, organs, nerves, or anastomotic sites are exposed in or adjacent to the wound due to risk of catastrophic injury.
Question 5: For a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) with adequate perfusion, the primary treatment intervention is:
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Total contact casting or off-loading (Correct answer)
- Systemic antibiotics for all wounds
- Aggressive surgical debridement only
Correct answer: Total contact casting or off-loading
Off-loading pressure from the foot—most effectively with total contact casting—is the cornerstone of diabetic foot ulcer treatment to relieve the causative mechanical stress.
Question 6: Which wound cleansing solution is considered safe and appropriate for most chronic wounds?
- Povidone-iodine 10% solution
- Hydrogen peroxide 3%
- Normal saline or wound cleansers with surfactants (Correct answer)
- Acetic acid 0.25%
Correct answer: Normal saline or wound cleansers with surfactants
Normal saline and low-toxicity wound cleansers with surfactants are safe for wound irrigation, removing debris without harming viable tissue.
NCWO Wound Care Management 1
Moist wound healing is preferred over dry wound healing primarily because it: