Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic associated with arterial ulcers?

1. Severe pain

2. Minimal exudate

3. Irregular wound margins

4. Pale wound bed

The correct answer is: Irregular wound margins

The characteristic that does not align with arterial ulcers is the presence of irregular wound margins. Arterial ulcers typically present with well-defined, regular, and often circular margins, primarily due to the lack of blood flow that impacts tissue perfusion and healing. Severe pain is a hallmark of arterial ulcers, as they often occur in areas with inadequate blood supply and can lead to significant ischemia. Additionally, arterial ulcers generally produce minimal exudate due to the dry nature of the tissue associated with poor perfusion. The wound bed is often pale or necrotic, indicating critical blood flow deficit. Hence, the characteristics of arterial ulcers are primarily well-defined margins, severe pain, minimal exudate, and a pale wound bed, making irregular wound margins an atypical finding in this context.