CPT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which gait deviation is most commonly associated with a transtibial socket that is fit too loose? → Pistoning during swing phase
2. When a prosthetist requests the technician to add a heel wedge to a SACH foot, what alignment adjustment does this typically create? → Increased plantar flexion moment at heel strike
3. What constitutes a boundary violation in professional practice? → Engaging in dual relationships that could impair professional judgment
4. What is the consequence of practicing outside the defined scope of practice? → Potential license revocation, legal liability, and risk to public safety
5. What is the primary function of a torsion adapter in a lower-limb prosthesis? → Allow transverse plane rotation to reduce shear forces on the residual limb
6. What is the purpose of using a cast saw in prosthetic fabrication? → To cut and trim cast materials
7. When aligning a transtibial (below-knee) prosthesis, the socket should be positioned so the pylon is oriented in which direction during stance phase? → Vertically aligned with the ground reaction force
8. Which suspension system uses a shuttle lock mechanism where a pin attached to the liner clicks into a locking distal housing? → Pin lock suspension
9. A pylon in an endoskeletal prosthesis provides which structural function? → It distributes weight-bearing forces from the socket to the distal prosthetic foot or knee
10. What does a quality assurance (QA) process involve in prosthetics? → Verifying conformity to standards
11. What is a key purpose of biomechanical alignment in prosthetics? → Optimize force distribution and gait efficiency
12. Which knee unit mechanism uses fluid resistance that automatically adjusts cadence-responsive damping during swing phase? → Pneumatic or hydraulic cadence-responsive knee
13. Why is the positive model critical in prosthetic socket design? → It guides socket shape and fit
14. In a transfemoral prosthesis, excessive lateral trunk bending toward the prosthetic side during stance is most likely caused by which alignment fault? → Socket positioned too far medially or abduction angle set incorrectly
15. Why is continuing education important for maintaining ethical practice? → It ensures practitioners stay current with evolving standards and best practices
16. When transitioning between treatment phases, what is essential? → Document the rationale for change and update goals accordingly
17. Which material is most commonly used for creating a rigid prosthetic socket? → Epoxy resin
18. Which prosthetic foot category is designed to store and return energy during the gait cycle, making it most suitable for active ambulators? → Energy-storing carbon fiber foot
19. When faced with a conflict of interest, what is the appropriate course of action? → Disclose the conflict and recuse yourself from the situation
20. How often should equipment be sterilized or disinfected? → Between each patient use according to manufacturer guidelines
21. What is 'volume fluctuation' in residual limb management and why is it clinically significant? → Daily changes in residual limb size that affect socket fit and comfort
22. A SACH (Solid Ankle Cushion Heel) foot achieves its shock absorption and pseudo-plantarflexion through which mechanism? → Compression of a foam or rubber heel wedge
23. Which waste should be placed in biohazard containers? → Items contaminated with blood or potentially infectious materials
24. What is the significance of obtaining a thorough patient history? → It reveals relevant conditions that may affect treatment planning
25. Which anatomical consideration is most important when performing procedures near joints? → Awareness of surrounding ligaments, tendons, and neurovascular structures
26. Which fitting principle describes trimming the transtibial socket's posterior wall height to avoid impinging the popliteal fossa during knee flexion? → Popliteal relief trim line
27. Which socket design for transtibial amputees loads the patellar tendon as a primary weight-bearing surface? → Patellar tendon bearing (PTB) socket
28. What is the purpose of a flexible inner socket (FIS) design in prosthetics? → To allow dynamic accommodation of residual limb volume changes during activity
29. What is the primary purpose of residual limb wrapping (shrinker or elastic bandaging) after amputation? → Reduce edema and shape the residual limb for prosthetic fitting
30. Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees (MPKs) use onboard sensors primarily to assess which variables in real time? → Angular velocity, acceleration, and load data to modulate hydraulic resistance