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Musculoskeletal Injury Management Flashcards

7 cards from real First Aid practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Musculoskeletal Injury Management flashcards as text

  1. A runner experiences sudden, severe cramping in the calf during a race. After stretching fails to relieve it, the muscle feels rock-hard. What is the most appropriate first aid?

    Answer: Gentle passive stretching, massage, and oral hydration

    Muscle cramps are treated with gentle stretching to lengthen the muscle, massage to promote circulation, and fluids to correct electrolyte imbalance.

  2. Which sign best differentiates a Grade III (complete) ligament tear from a Grade I (mild) sprain?

    Answer: Marked joint instability and loss of function

    A Grade III sprain involves complete ligament rupture, causing joint instability and inability to bear weight, unlike the partial tears of Grades I and II.

  3. You are improvising a splint for a suspected tibia fracture in the wilderness. The best improvised materials to use would be:

    Answer: Rigid sticks padded with clothing, secured above and below the fracture

    An effective improvised splint requires a rigid component for stability and soft padding to protect skin and neurovascular structures.

  4. A patient has a suspected hip fracture after a fall. Their injured leg appears shortened and externally rotated. You should:

    Answer: Keep the patient still, pad for comfort, and wait for EMS

    Hip fracture patients should not be moved unnecessarily; the limb is immobilized in the position found with padding, and EMS transport is required.

  5. What is compartment syndrome, and when should a first aider suspect it after a musculoskeletal injury?

    Answer: Dangerous pressure buildup in a muscle compartment, suspected when pain is disproportionate and worsens with passive stretch

    Compartment syndrome causes ischemia from rising intracompartmental pressure; the key early sign is pain far exceeding what the injury appears to warrant, especially with passive movement.

  6. An ice pack should never be applied directly to bare skin because:

    Answer: It can cause frostbite and cold-induced skin injury

    Direct ice contact can freeze superficial skin cells, causing frostbite; always wrap the ice pack in a cloth or towel.

  7. A patient sprains their wrist and asks if they should take anti-inflammatory medication. As a first aider, the appropriate response is to:

    Answer: Advise them to follow standard first aid, and consult a pharmacist or doctor regarding medication

    First aiders are not licensed to prescribe or administer medications; they should refer medication questions to qualified healthcare professionals.