Orthopaedic Nurse Test Orthopaedic Nurse Test Rehabilitation & Patient Recovery 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which range-of-motion exercise involves the patient performing movement independently without assistance from the nurse or a device?
- Passive ROM
- Active-assisted ROM
- Active ROM (Correct answer)
- Resistive ROM
Correct answer: Active ROM
Active ROM is performed by the patient using their own muscle strength without any external assistance, promoting strength and joint mobility.
Question 2: What is the primary goal of continuous passive motion (CPM) machine use after total knee replacement?
- Prevent infection at the surgical site
- Maintain and improve joint range of motion (Correct answer)
- Reduce postoperative bleeding
- Stimulate bone growth around the prosthesis
Correct answer: Maintain and improve joint range of motion
CPM machines passively flex and extend the knee joint postoperatively to prevent stiffness, reduce scar tissue formation, and promote cartilage nutrition.
Question 3: When teaching a patient non-weight-bearing (NWB) crutch walking, the nurse instructs the patient to bear weight through which body part?
- Wrists
- Axillae (armpits)
- Hands and arms only (Correct answer)
- Operative foot only
Correct answer: Hands and arms only
Non-weight-bearing crutch walking requires all weight bearing through the hands and arms; the axillae must NOT bear weight as this causes axillary nerve damage.
Question 4: Which functional outcome tool is most commonly used to assess patient outcomes following total knee arthroplasty in the US?
- DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand)
- KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) (Correct answer)
- Harris Hip Score
- Lysholm Knee Scale
Correct answer: KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)
The KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) is widely used to assess patient-reported outcomes including pain, function, and quality of life after TKA.
Question 5: A patient with a right total hip replacement (posterior approach) is being discharged. Which adaptive equipment is most important to prevent dislocation?
- Knee immobilizer brace
- Raised toilet seat (Correct answer)
- Continuous ice therapy unit
- Sequential compression device
Correct answer: Raised toilet seat
A raised toilet seat keeps hip flexion under 90°, preventing posterior dislocation of a total hip prosthesis during the critical early recovery period.
Question 6: What is the recommended weight-bearing status for a patient who has undergone a cemented total hip replacement, per standard protocols?
- Non-weight-bearing for 6 weeks
- Toe-touch weight-bearing only
- Weight-bearing as tolerated immediately (Correct answer)
- Partial weight-bearing with crutches for 12 weeks
Correct answer: Weight-bearing as tolerated immediately
Cemented total hip replacements allow immediate weight-bearing as tolerated because the bone cement provides immediate fixation without requiring bony ingrowth.
Orthopaedic Nurse Test Orthopaedic Nurse Test Rehabilitation & Patient Recovery 1
Which range-of-motion exercise involves the patient performing movement independently without assistance from the nurse or a device?