Certified Nurses Operating Room (CNOR) Practice Exam

Which type of healing is described when infected or chronic wounds cannot be approximated?

1. Healing Primary Intention

2. Healing Second Intention

3. Healing Third Intention

4. Healing Immediate Intention

The correct answer is: Healing Second Intention

When discussing the healing process for wounds that cannot be approximated, it is important to understand how the body naturally repairs itself in these scenarios. Healing by second intention refers to the process where a wound heals from the bottom up and from the edges inward, often seen in infected or chronic wounds. In cases where the wound edges cannot be brought together, the body must fill the wound with granulation tissue, which forms a new surface for the skin. This type of healing is essential for larger wounds or those that are contaminated, as the body works to manage infection while promoting the formation of new tissue. During second intention healing, the phases of wound healing progress through hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation, but without the edges of the wound being directly brought together. This method allows for proper cleaning and granulation tissue formation, facilitating eventual closure of the wound over time, even though it may take longer than healing by primary intention. Thus, the correct identification of this healing process sheds light on the body's adaptive mechanisms in dealing with complex wound scenarios, especially those that are not suitable for direct closure or stitching.