Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

What is the term for space caused by separation of wound edges that have not been closely approximated by sutures?

1. Dead Space

2. Granulation Tissue

3. Exudate

4. Necrotic Tissue

The correct answer is: Dead Space

The correct term for the space created by the separation of wound edges that have not been closely approximated by sutures is recognized as dead space. This phenomenon occurs when suturing techniques fail to bring the wound edges together adequately, leading to a gap that can potentially complicate healing. Dead space can lead to various complications, such as seromas or hematomas, and can impede the normal healing process by allowing fluid accumulation and increasing the risk of infection. Granulation tissue refers to the new connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels that form on the surface of a wound during the healing process, but it does not pertain to the spaces created by poorly approximated edges. Exudate describes the fluid that leaks out of blood vessels during the inflammatory stage of healing, which is related to the body's response to injury rather than the physical condition of wound margins. Necrotic tissue, on the other hand, is dead tissue that occurs in a wound; it signifies that the tissue has lost its blood supply and is no longer viable, but it does not specifically refer to the condition of the wound edges separating. Thus, dead space is the most accurate term to describe the situation in the question.