OTC Orthopaedic Technologist Certification 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which orthotic device is specifically designed to limit dorsiflexion and plantarflexion while allowing mediolateral motion?
- Solid ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)
- Hinged AFO with limited motion stops (Correct answer)
- Arizona brace
- Patellar tendon-bearing brace
Correct answer: Hinged AFO with limited motion stops
A hinged AFO with adjustable stops can be set to restrict sagittal plane motion (dorsiflexion/plantarflexion) while leaving coronal plane motion unrestricted.
Question 2: Anterior interosseous nerve syndrome is a branch of which nerve?
- Radial nerve
- Ulnar nerve
- Median nerve (Correct answer)
- Musculocutaneous nerve
Correct answer: Median nerve
The anterior interosseous nerve is a motor branch of the median nerve that innervates the FPL, FDP to the index and middle fingers, and pronator quadratus.
Question 3: Which assessment tool uses a 0-10 numerical scale and is considered appropriate for adult patients who can communicate verbally?
- Wong-Baker FACES scale
- Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (Correct answer)
- FLACC scale
- CRIES scale
Correct answer: Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) asks patients to rate pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable), making it ideal for verbal adults.
Question 4: A patient with a cast reports tingling and numbness in the fingertips shortly after application. The FIRST action by the OT should be:
- Document the complaint and reassess in 2 hours
- Bivalve or split the cast and notify the physician (Correct answer)
- Apply ice over the cast to reduce swelling
- Elevate the extremity and reassess in 30 minutes
Correct answer: Bivalve or split the cast and notify the physician
New onset paresthesias after casting may indicate neurovascular compromise; bivalving relieves pressure immediately and physician notification is mandatory.
Question 5: The 'gravity stress test' radiograph is used to assess ligamentous stability of which joint?
- Knee
- Ankle mortise
- Elbow (Correct answer)
- Shoulder
Correct answer: Elbow
The gravity stress view of the elbow is used in suspected lateral condyle fractures in children to evaluate whether the fracture is stable or unstable.
Question 6: When educating a patient about cast care, which instruction regarding moisture is correct?
- Plaster casts can get wet if dried with a hair dryer
- Plaster casts must be kept dry; fiberglass casts may be waterproof if lined with Gore-Tex (Correct answer)
- Both plaster and standard fiberglass casts are fully waterproof
- Moisture only affects the outer shell, not the structural integrity
Correct answer: Plaster casts must be kept dry; fiberglass casts may be waterproof if lined with Gore-Tex
Plaster casts are weakened by moisture, while fiberglass casts with a waterproof liner (e.g., Gore-Tex padding) can safely get wet.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the role of an Orthopaedic Technologist relative to physician supervision?
- OTs practice independently and make autonomous clinical decisions
- OTs perform technical tasks under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician (Correct answer)
- OTs supervise other allied health professionals in the cast room
- OTs are equivalent to PAs and NPs in scope of practice
Correct answer: OTs perform technical tasks under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician
Orthopaedic Technologists are trained to perform technical orthopedic procedures but always work under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician.
OTC Orthopaedic Technologist Certification 5
Which orthotic device is specifically designed to limit dorsiflexion and plantarflexion while allowing mediolateral motion?