OTC Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the OTC exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 OTC Exam Format at a Glance
📚 OTC Topics to Study (64)
✍️ Sample OTC Questions & Answers
1. During a spine surgery in the prone position, which complication must the OT monitor for related to eye positioning?
Direct pressure on the orbits during prone positioning can cause central retinal artery occlusion or corneal abrasion, making proper head/eye support critical.
2. Which position places the knee in approximately 20–30 degrees of flexion and is recommended for a long leg posterior splint?
A long leg posterior splint positions the knee in 20–30 degrees of flexion, which is the functional resting position and reduces tension on posterior structures.
3. Which of the following best describes a greenstick fracture?
A greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture typically seen in children where one cortex breaks and the opposite cortex bends, analogous to breaking a green stick.
4. How many layers of cotton padding should be applied over bony prominences when splinting the lower extremity?
Bony prominences require extra padding to prevent pressure sores and skin breakdown under the rigid splint material.
5. Which of the following is the MOST significant factor contributing to thermal injury (burns) to the patient's skin during the application of a plaster cast?
The chemical reaction between plaster of Paris and water is exothermic, meaning it releases heat as it cures. Using water with a temperature greater than 24°C (75°F) dramatically increases the peak temperature of this reaction, significantly raising the risk of causing a thermal burn to the patient's underlying skin.
6. A patient with a proximal tibia fracture being splinted with a long leg posterior splint should have the knee positioned in:
5–10 degrees of knee flexion relaxes the posterior capsule and prevents hyperextension while keeping the limb in a functional position.