Certified Clinical Medical Assistant CCMA Practice Test

An MA is removing sutures from a patient who has a laceration on his left lower leg. After setting up the sterile field, which of the following actions should the assistant take?

1. Push the suture needle through the skin

2. Cut the suture close to the skin

3. Lift the first knot away from the skin

4. Apply pressure to the wound

The correct answer is: Lift the first knot away from the skin

The correct course of action is to lift the first knot away from the skin. This maneuver is crucial because it allows the medical assistant to gain better access to the suture material without causing unnecessary trauma to the surrounding tissue. By carefully lifting the knot, the assistant can ensure a clean and effective removal process, minimizing discomfort for the patient. The other options are less appropriate in this context. For instance, pushing the suture needle through the skin is not a proper technique since the suture is already in place and needs to be removed, not reinserted. Cutting the suture too close to the skin could result in leaving a portion of the suture material in the wound, potentially leading to infection or delayed healing. Applying pressure to the wound is generally not recommended at this stage of suture removal unless there's active bleeding, as it could complicate the procedure and make it difficult to properly assess the wound once the sutures have been taken out.