Paramedics Exam Trauma Assessment and Management 4

Question 1

A motorcyclist struck a guardrail at high speed and has an open femur fracture with visible bone. Hemorrhage is controlled. The next priority is:

Accepted Answer

Traction splint application to reduce blood loss and pain

Answer

A traction splint reduces femur fracture displacement, decreasing internal blood loss (up to 1–2 liters) and pain before transport.

Question 2

Which of the following is a contraindication for applying a traction splint?

Accepted Answer

Suspected hip or knee joint injury

Answer

Traction splints are contraindicated when there is an associated hip, knee, or ankle injury because traction would distract those joints and cause further injury.

Question 3

You are assessing a 45-year-old who fell 20 feet from scaffolding and has point tenderness over T10. Proper spinal motion restriction includes:

Accepted Answer

Full spinal motion restriction with long backboard or vacuum mattress

Answer

A fall from height with thoracic point tenderness is a high-risk mechanism requiring full spinal motion restriction regardless of neurological status.

Question 4

Kehr's sign (left shoulder pain in a supine trauma patient) suggests injury to which structure?

Accepted Answer

Spleen with diaphragmatic irritation

Answer

Kehr's sign is referred left shoulder pain caused by blood irritating the diaphragm, classically associated with splenic laceration.

Question 5

A patient with traumatic cardiac arrest from penetrating thoracic trauma has CPR in progress. The prehospital intervention with the highest potential benefit is:

Accepted Answer

Bilateral needle decompression and rapid transport to a trauma center

Answer

Penetrating traumatic cardiac arrest often results from tension pneumothorax or tamponade; bilateral decompression and rapid transport for thoracotomy offer the best chance of survival.

Paramedics Exam Practice Test

Paramedics Exam Practice Test

Paramedics Exam Trauma Assessment and Management 4