PHTLS Musculoskeletal Trauma 4

Question 1

Which mechanism of injury is MOST likely to produce a posterior hip dislocation?

Accepted Answer

A dashboard impact with the knee in a flexed position

Answer

A dashboard injury where the knee strikes the dashboard while the hip is flexed transmits force posteriorly, forcing the femoral head out of the acetabulum posteriorly.

Question 2

What is the primary reason to check neurovascular status distal to a fracture BEFORE and AFTER splinting?

Accepted Answer

To detect vascular or nerve compromise caused by or worsened by the splint

Answer

Neurovascular checks before and after splinting detect compromise present at injury and identify new compromise inadvertently caused by the splint.

Question 3

A patient has a mid-shaft humerus fracture after a fall. Which nerve is MOST commonly injured with this fracture and what deficit would you expect?

Accepted Answer

Radial nerve; wrist drop and inability to extend the fingers

Answer

The radial nerve courses in the spiral groove of the humerus and is frequently injured with mid-shaft humeral fractures, resulting in wrist drop.

Question 4

A patient in hemorrhagic shock has a suspected pelvic fracture and open femur fracture. Which sequence of interventions is MOST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Pelvic binder first, control femur hemorrhage, then traction splint during transport

Answer

In a multiply injured patient, hemorrhage control takes priority; the pelvic binder stabilizes the largest source of internal hemorrhage, then visible external femur bleeding is controlled before traction splinting.

Question 5

Which of the following BEST describes an open fracture classification concern in the prehospital setting?

Accepted Answer

Identify any wound communicating with the fracture and treat as contaminated

Answer

Prehospital providers should identify any wound near a fracture as potentially communicating with the fracture, treat it as contaminated, and cover it with a moist sterile dressing.

PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Practice Test

PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Practice Test

PHTLS Musculoskeletal Trauma 4