Certified Nurses Operating Room (CNOR) Practice Exam

Delayed closure in wound healing refers to which of the following?

1. Wound is immediately sutured

2. Wound is left open for several days before closure

3. Wound healing occurs without any intervention

4. Wound is cleaned and closed with dressings

The correct answer is: Wound is left open for several days before closure

Delayed closure in wound healing is defined as the practice of leaving a wound open for a specific period of time before it is ultimately closed. This approach allows for the monitoring of the wound for any signs of infection and promotes drainage of any potential exudate. Leaving the wound open serves several purposes, including minimizing the risk of infection by observing the healing environment and ensuring that any contaminants or necrotic tissue can be managed effectively. Once the appropriate healing conditions are established and the risk of infection is low, the wound can then be carefully closed, often using sutures or staples. The other options describe different wound management techniques but do not align with the concept of delayed closure. For example, immediate suturing of a wound might not allow for monitoring or drainage, while cleaning and dressing a wound or allowing it to heal without any intervention are distinct from the delayed closure strategy which specifically involves a waiting period before closure.