OTC Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Sensation over the dorsum of the foot (excluding the first web space) is primarily supplied by which nerve? → Superficial peroneal nerve
2. Loss of sensation on the medial aspect of the forearm and hypothenar eminence most likely indicates injury to which nerve? → Ulnar nerve
3. In a neurovascular assessment, 'paresthesia' refers to: → Abnormal sensations such as tingling, numbness, or burning
4. Which observation during cast application indicates that padding has been applied with excessive tension, increasing the risk of compartment syndrome? → Wrinkling and ridging of the cast padding
5. When setting up the back table for a shoulder rotator cuff repair, which instrument is essential for suture anchor placement? → Awl and mallet
6. The Ottawa Ankle Rules are a clinical decision tool used primarily to determine the need for which diagnostic study? → Ankle radiographs
7. A patient presents with point tenderness over the anatomical snuffbox after a fall on an outstretched hand. Which bone should be suspected fractured? → Scaphoid
8. Pin site care for skeletal traction typically includes: → Cleaning with prescribed solution and monitoring for signs of infection
9. A Colles' fracture is a distal radius fracture characterized by which deformity? → Dorsal angulation
10. Which action is required immediately after removing contaminated gloves? → Perform hand hygiene
11. A patient presents 3 weeks after cast application with a documented fracture that appears malaligned on X-ray. The MOST appropriate initial step is: → Notify the supervising physician
12. When setting plaster of Paris casting material, the exothermic reaction can reach temperatures high enough to cause burns. To reduce this risk, the OT should: → Use cool water and avoid excess plaster thickness
13. Which term best describes a fracture where one bone end is driven into the other by compressive force? → Impacted fracture
14. A cruciform anterior spinal hyperextension (CASH) brace is most appropriate for which spinal condition? → Thoracic compression fracture (stable)
15. According to the principles of Standard Precautions, when should an Orthopaedic Technologist wear gloves? → When anticipating contact with any blood, body fluids, or non-intact skin.
16. When removing a cast from a child, the preferred technique to reduce anxiety includes: → Demonstrating the saw on the parent's hand first
17. When should a cast window be cut? → To allow wound inspection or pressure relief over a bony prominence
18. The primary purpose of pulsed lavage (high-pressure irrigation) during orthopaedic surgery is to: → Remove debris, devitalized tissue, and bacteria to reduce infection risk
19. Which gait pattern is used when a patient can bear partial weight on one extremity and uses two crutches? → Three-point gait
20. When applying a posterior knee splint for a patellar tendon rupture, the knee should be immobilized in: → Full extension (0 degrees)
21. During cast removal, the cast saw should be moved in which motion to minimize skin injury? → Up-and-down plunge motion without lateral sweeping
22. When an Orthopaedic Technologist is instructed to bivalve a cast to relieve pressure, what is the correct procedure? → Making two complete longitudinal cuts on opposite sides of the cast.
23. Which fracture type involves a fragment of bone being pulled away at a tendon or ligament attachment site? → Avulsion
24. The RACE acronym used in fire safety stands for: → Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuate
25. A patient with a freshly applied long arm cast develops pain that worsens with passive extension of the fingers. This most likely indicates: → Developing compartment syndrome
26. In the RICE protocol for acute soft tissue injuries, what does the letter 'E' stand for? → Elevation
27. Which of the following best describes the function of the stockinette layer in lower extremity splinting? → Protects skin from direct contact with padding and splint material
28. Which pathogen is the most common cause of surgical site infections in orthopaedic procedures? → Staphylococcus aureus
29. Which of the following is a primary advantage of using a sugar-tong splint over a circumferential cast for an acute, unstable distal forearm fracture? → It accommodates for initial swelling better than a circumferential cast.
30. Which traction type applies force directly through surgically implanted pins or wires into bone? → Skeletal traction