Chapter 31 Orthopedic Injuries

Crepitus and false motion are: Select one: A. only seen with open fractures. B. indicators of a severe sprain. C. positive indicators of a fracture. D. most common with dislocations.

Chapter 31, page 1095, Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: positive indicators of a fracture.

Which of the following musculoskeletal injuries would pose the greatest threat to a patient's life? Select one: A. Pelvic fracture with hypotension B. Bilateral femur fractures C. An amputated extremity D. Nondisplaced long bone fractures

Chapter 31, page 1099, Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: Pelvic fracture with hypotension

In general, musculoskeletal injuries should be splinted before moving the patient unless: Select one: A. the patient is clinically unstable. B. the patient is in severe pain. C. deformity and swelling are present. D. transport time is less than 15 minutes.

Chapter 31, page 1104, Emergency Medical Care The correct answer is: the patient is clinically unstable.

During your assessment of a 29-year-old female with significant deformity to her left elbow, you are unable to palpate a radial pulse. Your transport time to the hospital is approximately 40 minutes. You should: Select one: A. carefully straighten the injured arm and secure it with padded board splints. B. splint the elbow in the position of deformity and transport immediately. C. make two or three attempts to restore distal circulation by manipulating the elbow. D. apply gentle manual traction in line with the limb and reassess for a pulse.

Chapter 31, page 1121, Specific Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: apply gentle manual traction in line with the limb and reassess for a pulse.

A 17-year-old female dislocated her patella while playing soccer. Her knee is flexed and she complains of severe pain. You should: Select one: A. flex her knee slightly more and assess for distal circulation. B. gently straighten her knee and apply a padded board splint. C. keep her knee flexed and secure it with padded board splints. D. make one attempt to return the patella to its normal position.

Chapter 31, page 1129, Specific Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: keep her knee flexed and secure it with padded board splints.

Which of the following statements regarding compartment syndrome is correct? Select one: A. In most cases, compartment syndrome develops within a few minutes after an injury. B. Compartment syndrome typically develops within 6 to 12 hours after an injury. C. Compartment syndrome occurs because of increased pressure within the bone cavity. D. Most cases of compartment syndrome occur following a severe fracture of the pelvis.

Chapter 31, page 1132, Compartment Syndrome The correct answer is: Compartment syndrome typically develops within 6 to 12 hours after an injury.

Skeletal muscle is attached to the bone by tough, ropelike, fibrous structures called: Select one: A. ligaments. B. cartilage. C. fascia. D. tendons.

Chapter 31, pages 1087-1088, Anatomy and Physiology of the Musculoskeletal System The correct answer is: tendons.

The musculoskeletal system refers to the: Select one: A. nervous system's control over the muscles. B. bones and voluntary muscles of the body. C. involuntary muscles of the nervous system. D. connective tissue that supports the skeleton.

Chapter 31, page 1087, Introduction The correct answer is: bones and voluntary muscles of the body.

With regard to musculoskeletal injuries, the zone of injury is defined as the: Select one: A. part of the body that sustained secondary injury. B. exact part of the bone or joint that was disrupted. C. area of soft-tissue damage surrounding the injury. D. area of obvious deformity over the site of impact.

Chapter 31, page 1092, Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: area of soft-tissue damage surrounding the injury.

Which of the following musculoskeletal injuries would MOST likely result in deformity? Select one: A. Severe strain B. Displaced fracture C. Moderate sprain D. Hairline fracture

Chapter 31, page 1093, Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: Displaced fracture

A fracture is MOST accurately defined as a(n): Select one: A. disruption in the midshaft of a bone. B. break in the continuity of the bone. C. abnormality in the structure of a bone. D. total loss of function in a bone.

Chapter 31, page 1093, Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: break in the continuity of the bone.

An open fracture is MOST accurately defined as a fracture in which: Select one: A. a large laceration overlies the fracture. B. the overlying skin is no longer intact. C. a bullet shatters the underlying bone. D. bone ends protrude through the skin.

Chapter 31, page 1093, Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: the overlying skin is no longer intact.

A 54-year-old male accidentally shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun. Your assessment reveals a small entrance wound to the medial aspect of his right leg. The exit wound is on the opposite side of the leg and is actively bleeding. The patient complains of numbness and tingling in his right foot. You should: Select one: A. assess distal pulses as well as sensory and motor functions. B. manually stabilize the leg above and below the site of injury. C. control the bleeding and cover the wound with a sterile dressing. D. gently manipulate the injured leg until the numbness dissipates.

Chapter 31, page 1103, Emergency Medical Care The correct answer is: control the bleeding and cover the wound with a sterile dressing.

In which of the following situations should the EMT splint an injured limb in the position of deformity? Select one: A. When distal circulation and neurological functions are absent B. If a traction splint will be used to immobilize the injured extremity C. If resistance is encountered or the patient experiences severe pain D. If transport time to the hospital is greater than 20 to 30 minutes

Chapter 31, page 1105, Emergency Medical Care The correct answer is: If resistance is encountered or the patient experiences severe pain

The MOST significant hazard associated with splinting is: Select one: A. aggravation of the injury or worsened pain. B. reduction in circulation distal to the injury site. C. compression of nerves, tissues, and vasculature. D. delaying transport of a critically injured patient.

Chapter 31, page 1115, Emergency Medical Care The correct answer is: delaying transport of a critically injured patient.

When caring for a patient with a possible fracture of the scapula, the EMT should: Select one: A. apply rigid board splints across the chest and back. B. assume that minimal force was applied to the back. C. recognize that scapular fractures are life threatening. D. carefully assess the patient for breathing problems.

Chapter 31, page 1116, Specific Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: carefully assess the patient for breathing problems.

A supracondylar or intercondylar fracture is also known as a fracture of the: Select one: A. olecranon process. B. proximal radius. C. radial head. D. distal humerus.

Chapter 31, page 1118, Specific Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: distal humerus.

A "hip" fracture is actually a fracture of the: Select one: A. proximal femur. B. pelvic girdle. C. pubic symphysis. D. femoral shaft.

Chapter 31, page 1126, Specific Musculoskeletal Injuries The correct answer is: proximal femur.

A 22-year-old female was ejected from her car after striking a tree head-on. As you approach her, you note obvious closed deformities to both of her femurs. She is not moving and does not appear to be conscious. You should: Select one: A. assess for a carotid pulse and assist her ventilations. B. apply manual stabilization to both of her femurs. C. stabilize her head and perform a primary assessment. D. administer oxygen and perform a rapid assessment.

Chapter 31, pages 1099-1100, Patient Assessment The correct answer is: stabilize her head and perform a primary assessment.

During your secondary assessment of a 30-year-old male who fell 25 feet, you note crepitus when palpating his pelvis. Your partner advises you that the patient's blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg and his heart rate is 120 beats/min and weak. After completing your assessment, you should: Select one: A. stabilize the pelvis with a pelvic binder and protect the spine. B. log roll the patient onto a long backboard and transport at once. C. perform a focused physical exam with emphasis on the pelvis. D. defer spinal immobilization and transport to a trauma center.

Chapter 31, pages 1114-1115, Emergency Medical Care The correct answer is: stabilize the pelvis with a pelvic binder and protect the spine.