National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

For physical therapy regarding a pressure injury, what is a primary focus for enhancing healing?

1. Increase local blood flow

2. Reduce swelling

3. Maintain a moist environment

4. Monitor peripheral nerve response

The correct answer is: Maintain a moist environment

Maintaining a moist environment is considered a primary focus for enhancing healing in the context of pressure injuries. Evidence supports that a moist wound environment facilitates the healing process by promoting cellular migration, reducing the formation of eschar, and minimizing pain. This moisture helps to prevent the tissue from drying out, thereby avoiding scab formation that can inhibit the healing process. Additionally, a moist environment assists in autolytic debridement, where the body can naturally cleanse the wound by breaking down dead tissues. While increasing local blood flow, reducing swelling, and monitoring peripheral nerve response are also important considerations in overall treatment strategies for pressure injuries, they do not directly address the most critical aspect of wound management. Local blood flow is crucial for delivering nutrients and oxygen to the wound, but simply increasing blood flow does not guarantee a variety of other factors that contribute to healing. Reducing swelling can help manage additional complications, but it is not the primary goal for wound healing itself. Monitoring peripheral nerve response is vital for assessing sensation and function but does not directly affect the healing environment of the wound. Therefore, maintaining a moist environment is the most integral to promote effective healing of pressure injuries.