Wound Care Certified Certification (WCC) Practice Exam

How long does it typically take for the temperature of the wound base to return to normal after a dressing change?

1. 2 hours

2. 4 hours

3. 6 hours

4. 8 hours

The correct answer is: 4 hours

The time it typically takes for the temperature of the wound base to return to normal after a dressing change is approximately 4 hours. This figure aligns with observations from clinical practice and physiological responses following wound care procedures. When a dressing is removed, it can disturb the localized thermal environment of the wound, leading to an initial increase in temperature due to exposure to air and disruption of blood flow. Over the next few hours, the wound base usually stabilizes, and the temperature normalizes as blood flow and the inflammatory response return to baseline levels. A shorter duration, such as 2 hours, may not account for the complexities of wound healing and the physiological responses involved after a dressing change. A longer time frame, like 6 or 8 hours, would indicate prolonged abnormal conditions that are not typically observed under standard care practices. Thus, considering the balance of these factors, 4 hours serves as an accurate benchmark for the time it takes for the wound temperature to normalize after a dressing change.