Musculoskeletal and Soft Tissue Trauma - NREMT AEMT Level
- Identify the correct splinting principle regarding joints when immobilizing a long-bone injury.
- Immobilize the joint above and the joint below. Splinting stabilizes the fracture by immobilizing adjacent joints, minimizing movement and further tissue damage.
- What is the definition of a dislocation?
- Complete loss of joint surface contact. Dislocations happen when bones in a joint are forced out of alignment, resulting in no contact between articular surfaces.
- Which specific injury is suggested by a painful, deformed shoulder with loss of normal contour?
- Shoulder dislocation. Shoulder dislocations alter the joint's rounded shape, causing deformity and pain from humeral head displacement.
- Which finding is the most reliable early indicator of compartment syndrome?
- Pain out of proportion to the injury. Compartment syndrome causes intense pain from pressure buildup in fascial compartments, preceding other signs like paresthesia.
- What is the definition of a closed fracture?
- Fracture with intact overlying skin. Closed fractures maintain skin integrity over the break, reducing immediate infection risk compared to open types.
- Which fracture pattern results from twisting forces and appears as a spiral line?
- Spiral fracture. Spiral fractures arise from rotational stress, creating a helical break pattern along the bone's length.
- What is the definition of an open fracture?
- Fracture with an open wound to the fracture site. Open fractures breach the skin, exposing the bone and increasing risks of contamination and bleeding.
- Which tissue type is primarily injured in a sprain?
- Ligaments. Sprains occur when ligaments, which connect bones at joints, are stretched or torn due to excessive force.
- Which fracture pattern is an incomplete break with cortical buckling, common in children?
- Torus (buckle) fracture. Torus fractures involve compression forces causing the cortex to buckle without full breakage, typical in immature skeletons.
- Which burn depth is characterized by red, painful skin without blisters?
- Superficial (first-degree) burn. Superficial burns affect only the epidermis, causing erythema and pain without deeper tissue involvement.
- Which burn depth is characterized by blisters and significant pain?
- Partial-thickness (second-degree) burn. Partial-thickness burns damage the dermis, forming blisters and eliciting severe pain from exposed nerve endings.
- Which burn depth is characterized by leathery or charred skin with decreased pain sensation?
- Full-thickness (third-degree) burn. Full-thickness burns destroy all skin layers, resulting in insensate, tough tissue due to nerve destruction.
- Which fracture pattern is an incomplete break that bends on one side and breaks on the other?
- Greenstick fracture. Greenstick fractures occur in flexible pediatric bones, bending like green wood without complete separation.
- What is the correct immediate care for an amputated part intended for possible reimplantation?
- Wrap moist sterile, bag it, then place on ice slurry. Proper preservation maintains tissue viability by preventing drying, contamination, and freezing during transport.
- Which fracture type is caused by a tendon or ligament pulling off a bone fragment?
- Avulsion fracture. Avulsion fractures happen when strong muscle contractions or ligament pulls detach a bone piece at the attachment site.
- Which device is indicated to control life-threatening extremity hemorrhage not controlled by pressure?
- Tourniquet placed proximal to the bleeding site. Tourniquets occlude arterial flow when pressure fails, preventing exsanguination in severe limb trauma.
- Identify the correct field action when distal pulses are absent after splinting an extremity injury.
- Reassess alignment; if allowed, gently realign once and resplint. Absent pulses indicate vascular compromise; realignment may restore flow if protocols permit, followed by resplinting.
- Which assessment elements make up a distal neurovascular check for an injured extremity?
- Pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to injury. Distal checks evaluate circulation, movement, and feeling to detect neurovascular compromise from injury or swelling.
- Which intervention is appropriate first for severe extremity bleeding with suspected fracture?
- Direct pressure and pressure dressing. Direct pressure controls bleeding by compressing vessels, with dressings maintaining pressure on unstable fractures.
- Which fracture pattern is described by a bone broken into more than two pieces?
- Comminuted fracture. Comminuted fractures result from high-impact trauma that shatters the bone into multiple fragments.
- What is the main immediate threat from an open fracture in the field?
- Hemorrhage and infection risk. Open fractures expose the site to external contaminants, heightening infection potential alongside blood loss.
- Which tissue type is primarily injured in a strain?
- Muscle or tendon. Strains involve overstretching or tearing of muscles or tendons, which connect muscles to bones, often from sudden movements.
- What is the primary life-threatening complication associated with pelvic fractures?
- Massive hemorrhage. Pelvic fractures can disrupt major blood vessels, leading to significant internal bleeding and hypovolemic shock.
- What is the correct first step in managing a chemical burn to the skin?
- Brush off dry chemical, then irrigate copiously. Removing dry chemicals prevents further reaction, followed by irrigation to dilute and wash away the agent.
- What is the definition of a subluxation?
- Partial loss of joint surface contact. Subluxations are partial dislocations where joint surfaces remain in partial contact but are misaligned.