Mixed Deck — All CPT Topics Flashcards

The principle of nonmaleficence in prosthetics specifically requires the technician to:

Answer: Avoid actions or omissions that cause harm to the patient

Nonmaleficence — 'first, do no harm' — obliges clinicians to avoid causing harm through action or inaction.

Which type of bone tissue found in the epiphyses of long bones has a honeycomb structure that reduces weight while maintaining strength?

Answer: Cancellous (trabecular) bone

Cancellous (trabecular) bone has an open lattice structure that provides strength with minimal mass, found in epiphyses and vertebral bodies.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a prosthetics practice must ensure which of the following for patients with mobility impairments?

Answer: Physical accessibility of the facility

The ADA requires places of public accommodation, including healthcare facilities, to provide physical accessibility to individuals with disabilities.

Before laminating a prosthetic socket, what preparation must be performed on the test socket or positive mold surface?

Answer: Apply a release agent or PVA film to allow removal

A release agent or PVA film is applied to prevent the laminate from permanently bonding to the mold.

What is the purpose of vacuum forming in prosthetic socket fabrication?

Answer: To shape the socket over a positive model

Vacuum forming is a manufacturing process where a heated sheet of plastic material is stretched over a positive mold (the positive model of the residual limb) and then a vacuum is applied. This process pulls the softened plastic tightly against the mold, precisely shaping it to create a custom-fitting prosthetic socket.

Which prosthetic foot feature is most beneficial for a transtibial amputee with a K3 activity level who frequently walks on uneven terrain?

Answer: Multiaxial dynamic response foot

A multiaxial dynamic response foot allows motion in multiple planes, improving stability and adaptability on uneven surfaces for active users.

What is the purpose of a functional outcomes assessment tool like the PLUS-M in prosthetic documentation?

Answer: To objectively measure the patient's prosthetic mobility

The PLUS-M (Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility) quantifies a patient's functional mobility, supporting clinical justification in the medical record.

Which joint primarily enables flexion and extension of the knee?

Answer: Tibiofemoral joint

The tibiofemoral joint is the primary articulation between the tibia and the femur, forming the main part of the knee joint. This hinge joint is specifically designed to allow for the large range of motion required for flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) of the knee, which are crucial movements for walking and other activities.

A certified prosthetic technician is laminating a transfemoral socket using a pull-through technique. What is the correct order of lamination layers from innermost to outermost?

Answer: Nylon stockinette, reinforcement layers, nylon stockinette

The standard pull-through lamination sequence uses a nylon stockinette as the innermost layer, followed by reinforcement layers (fiberglass/carbon), and a final outer nylon stockinette.

A newly fabricated polypropylene check socket warps during storage before the fitting appointment. The MOST likely cause is:

Answer: Residual internal stress not fully relieved during fabrication cooling

Polypropylene retains residual internal stresses if cooled too rapidly after forming; these stresses are released over time, causing warping during storage.

In socket design, what does the term 'relief area' refer to?

Answer: A region of the socket that is relieved (expanded or softened) to reduce pressure over a bony prominence

Relief areas are intentional modifications to the socket wall that reduce pressure over bony prominences such as the fibular head or tibial crest to prevent skin breakdown.

When bench-aligning a SACH foot to a transtibial prosthesis, the foot should be set with:

Answer: 5–7° of toe-out and slight plantar flexion

A SACH foot is bench-aligned with 5–7° of toe-out to mimic the natural gait angle and slight plantar flexion to encourage heel loading.

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires employers to offer which vaccination to exposed workers at no cost?

Answer: Hepatitis B

OSHA mandates that employers offer the Hepatitis B vaccine series free of charge to workers with occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

A myoelectric prosthetic hand uses surface electromyography (sEMG) signals from residual limb muscles to control the hand. Which muscle pair is most commonly used for transradial myoelectric control?

Answer: Wrist flexors and wrist extensors

The wrist flexors and wrist extensors of the residual forearm are the primary electrode sites for transradial myoelectric control, as they retain voluntary muscle function distal to the amputation.

A pediatric patient with a unilateral transhumeral amputation is being fitted for a body-powered prosthesis. Which control motion is typically harnessed to operate the terminal device?

Answer: Biscapular abduction (forward flexion of the intact shoulder)

Biscapular abduction — forward shoulder flexion — is the primary control motion used to operate the terminal device via the figure-9 or figure-8 harness system.

Which regulation governs proper disposal of sharp objects such as drills and saw blades used in prosthetic fabrication?

Answer: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard for sharps disposal

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard requires proper sharps disposal containers and procedures to protect workers from percutaneous injury.

Which bone forms the posterior portion of the hard palate and separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity?

Answer: Palatine bone

The palatine bone forms the posterior portion of the hard palate and plays a role in separating the oral and nasal cavities.

Which action violates safe chemical handling practices in a prosthetics fabrication lab?

Answer: Storing incompatible chemicals on the same shelf without segregation

Storing incompatible chemicals together (e.g., oxidizers with flammables) creates serious fire and explosion hazards and violates safe storage practices.

What residual limb characteristic is most important when selecting the appropriate socket wall thickness during fabrication?

Answer: Activity level and body weight of the patient

Socket wall thickness must match the patient's activity level and body weight to ensure structural integrity under load without adding unnecessary weight.

To achieve proper pistoning control in a pin-lock suspension system, the technician must ensure:

Answer: The liner pin length matches the distal socket receiver depth

Proper fit requires the liner's pin length to match the receiver depth so the lock engages securely without bottoming out or incomplete engagement.