CPEN Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Emergencies Flashcards
6 cards from real CPEN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CPEN Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Emergencies flashcards as text
A child presents with pain and inability to bear weight after a fall. Which radiographic finding is unique to pediatric fractures?
Answer: Salter-Harris growth plate fracture
Salter-Harris fractures involve the physis (growth plate) and are unique to skeletally immature patients, with classification guiding prognosis and treatment.
Which clinical finding is the hallmark of compartment syndrome in a pediatric extremity injury?
Answer: Pain with passive stretch of the affected muscles out of proportion to the injury
Pain with passive muscle stretch that is disproportionate to the injury is the earliest and most reliable sign of compartment syndrome.
A 2-year-old presents with refusal to use his right arm after being lifted by the arm. Which injury is most likely?
Answer: Nursemaid's elbow (radial head subluxation)
Nursemaid's elbow occurs when longitudinal traction on an outstretched arm causes subluxation of the radial head beneath the annular ligament, common in toddlers.
Which type of fracture in a young child should raise suspicion for non-accidental trauma (NAT)?
Answer: Classic metaphyseal lesion or posterior rib fractures
Classic metaphyseal lesions (bucket-handle fractures) and posterior rib fractures are high-specificity indicators of non-accidental trauma in young children.
What is the priority nursing intervention for a child with an open fracture?
Answer: Cover the wound with a sterile moist dressing, immobilize, and administer antibiotics
Open fractures require sterile wound coverage to reduce infection risk, proper splinting for immobilization, and prompt IV antibiotics to prevent osteomyelitis.
A child with a suspected supracondylar fracture should be monitored closely for which neurovascular complication?
Answer: Anterior interosseous nerve injury and brachial artery compromise
Supracondylar fractures put the anterior interosseous nerve and brachial artery at risk due to the close proximity of these structures to the fracture site.