Scenario:


An Embedded Particle

Your answer:
The level of contamination is minimal and the wound is small. Bandage the wound and allow it to heal by secondary intention.

Incorrect answer.
The nurse believes that the wound requires a physician to examine it. It would be inappropriate to ignore her recommendation. Bandaging the wound however is a good option. Occasionally, contamination will become trapped in the pores of the skin. Bandaging the wound increases the local temperature slightly and promotes perspiration. This technique is sometimes used to remove persistent contamination on intact skin.

The technician should be medically evaluated, the wound examined, cleaned, debrided and the residual radioactivity measured. The decision to let the wound heal by secondary intention (no suturing) is a medical one. The presence of contamination should have no bearing on this decision.