OCS Surgical & Post-Operative Care 3

Question 1

A patient 6 weeks post-SLAP repair is cleared to begin active-assisted ROM. Which motion should be introduced LAST due to greatest risk of re-injury?

Accepted Answer

External rotation at 90° abduction

Answer

External rotation at 90° abduction places maximum stress on the repaired superior labrum and biceps anchor and is typically the final motion introduced.

Question 2

Following a Bankart repair for anterior shoulder instability, which position must be strictly avoided in the early post-operative period?

Accepted Answer

Shoulder abduction combined with external rotation

Answer

Abduction with external rotation is the apprehension position that stresses the anterior capsule and labrum repair and must be avoided early post-operatively.

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of wound drainage systems (e.g., Jackson-Pratt drains) in post-operative orthopedic patients?

Accepted Answer

Prevent hematoma formation and reduce infection risk by removing accumulated fluid

Answer

Drainage systems remove accumulated blood and fluid from the surgical site, preventing hematoma formation which can increase infection risk and impair healing.

Question 4

A patient 4 months post-total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) asks when they can return to golf. Which factor MOST influences this timeline?

Accepted Answer

Type of implant used (anatomic vs. reverse TSA) and surgeon protocol

Answer

Anatomic TSA may allow earlier return to golf than reverse TSA due to different muscle mechanics and implant constraints specific to each design.

Question 5

Which sign indicates compartment syndrome following lower extremity orthopedic surgery and requires emergency intervention?

Accepted Answer

Pain out of proportion to injury with pain on passive stretch of the muscles in the compartment

Answer

Pain disproportionate to the clinical picture combined with pain on passive muscle stretch is the earliest and most reliable clinical indicator of compartment syndrome.

(OCS) Orthopedic Certified Specialist Practice Test

(OCS) Orthopedic Certified Specialist Practice Test

OCS Surgical & Post-Operative Care 3