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Question 394
Pathology → General
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
A postoperative wound is healing poorly. Several potentially adverse local factors are present, including movement, retained foreign material and reduced local vascularity. Which local factor is the most important cause of delayed wound healing?
Question Stem
Select the single best answer.
Options
A
Movement
B
Infection
C
Impaired lymphatic drainage
D
Foreign material
E
Poor vascularity
Explanation
Several local factors may delay wound healing, including poor vascularity, foreign bodies, movement, ionising radiation, necrosis, impaired lymphatic drainage and tissue separation. Infection is the most important local factor delaying healing.
Option Validity
A) Movement can delay healing, but it is not identified as the most important local factor.
C) Impaired lymphatic drainage can adversely affect healing but is not the principal local factor specified.
D) Foreign material, particularly catgut, may delay healing but is not ranked above infection.
E) Poor vascularity impairs wound healing, but infection is the most important local factor.
Further Reading
Saxena R. Textbook for MRCOG-1. Chapter 5: Pathology. General Pathology, pp.161–175.