Certified Nurses Operating Room (CNOR) Practice Exam

Which type of wound healing involves the aseptic approximation of wound edges by suture or staples?

1. Healing Second Intention

2. Healing Primary Intention

3. Healing Tertiary Intention

4. Healing Post-Operative Intention

The correct answer is: Healing Primary Intention

The correct answer is healing by primary intention. This type of wound healing occurs when the edges of a wound are brought together (approximated) either by sutures, staples, or adhesive closures. The goal is to minimize tissue loss and promote healing with minimal scarring and faster recovery. This method is often used in surgical procedures where the incision is clean and can be easily closed, allowing for quick healing. In healing by primary intention, the wound is generally clean, and there is little to no tissue left in the wound bed. As a result, healing occurs through a straightforward process where closure reduces the potential for infection and other complications. Other types of wound healing, such as healing by second intention, involve wounds that cannot be directly approximated, typically leading to more complex healing processes that can result in greater scarring and a longer healing time. Tertiary intention involves a delay between the initial injury and closure, often due to infection or other factors. Post-operative intention is not a recognized term in wound healing classification.