Chapter 29 - Musculoskeletal Care

Front 1

When an air splint is exposed to extreme temperature changes, the air pressure in the splint:

Back 1

decreases in cold air

Reason: With extreme temperature changes, the air pressure in an air splint will vary, decreasing in cold air and increasing in warm air. During helicopter transport, changes in pressure will also occur with changes in altitude. (ECTSI 8, p. 655)

Front 2

A woman appears to have fractures of the left leg and arm as a result of a head-on collision. The patient is conscious and states that her "stomach hurts." During your assessment, you notice a bloody discharge from the urethreal area. You shouldprepare the patient for transport by immobilizing her on a:

Back 2

long backboard with a PASG in place.

Reason: The patient's abdominal pain and bloody discharge suggest a possible pelvic fracture. The appropriate course of action in this situation would be to immobilize the patient on a long spine board with a PASG in place under the patient. (ECTSI 8, p. 668)

Front 3

A fracture of the humeral shaft is most commonly immobilized with which of the following devices?

Back 3

Padded board splint with a sling and swathe

Reason: A fracture of the humeral shaft is most commonly splinted with a padded board splint. (ECTSI 8, p. 663)

Front 4

A young female has suffered from a suspected fracture of the left femur. A distal pulse is present, and both motor and sensory functions are intact. There is severe deformity to the midshaft femur. In caring for this patient, you should:

Back 4

apply constant, gentle traction to facilitate splinting.

Reason: If the fracture of a long bone shaft has resulted in severe deformity, use constant, gentle manual traction to align the limb so that it can be splinted. This is especially important if the distal part of the extremity is cyanotic or pulseless. (ECTSI 8, p. 653)

Front 5

The bone in the thigh that connects with the tibia at the knee is called the:

Back 5

femur.

Reason: The tibia connects with the femur to form the knee joint. (ECTSI 8, p. 642)

Front 6

Which of the following materials covers the ends of bones where motion occurs?

Back 6

Articular cartilage

Reason: Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones in joints where motion occurs. (ECTSI 8, p. 642)

Front 7

Fractures of the femur are typically immobilized with:

Back 7

a traction splint.

Reason: Unless contraindicated, fractures of the femur are typically immobilized with a traction splint. (ECTSI 8, pp. 670 - 671)

Front 8

You are caring for a patient with a closed fracture of the tibia. One of the main reasons for splinting is to prevent:

Back 8

a closed fracture from becoming an open fracture.

Reason: The greatest danger is the possibility of converting a closed fracture to an open fracture. (ECTSI 8, pp. 673 - 674)

Front 9

When splinting an extremity with a wound associated with an open fracture, you should:

Back 9

dress the wound before applying the splint.

Reason: When splinting an open fracture, you should dress the wound before applying the splint. (ECTSI 8, p. 653)

Front 10

Skeletal muscle is also referred to as:

Back 10

striated muscle.

Reason: Skeletal muscle, also called striated muscle because of its characteristic stripes, attaches to the bones and usually crosses at least one joint, forming the major muscle mass of the body. This type of muscle is also called voluntary muscle because it is under direct voluntary control of the brain. (ECTSI 8, p. 640)

Front 11

A severely angulated fracture is considered serious because the angulation is likely to:

Back 11

pinch or cut nerves and blood vessels.

Reason: Angulation may cause pinching or cutting of nerves and blood vessels (ECTSI 8, p. 665)

Front 12

Atrophy of a muscle can result when which of the following occurs?

Back 12

There is a loss of a muscle's nervous energy.

Reason: Either disease or trauma can result in the loss of a muscle's nervous energy; this, in turn can lead to atrophy, or a wasting of the muscle. (ECTSI 8, p. 640)

Front 13

To effectively immobilize a fractured clavicle, you should apply:

Back 13

a sling and swathe.

Reason: A sling and swathe is used to immobilize a fractured clavicle. (ECTSI 8, p. 661)

Front 14

If a person has suffered from a disruption in the continuity of a bone, he or she has suffered from a:

Back 14

fracture.

Reason: A fracture is a broken bone. More precisely, it is a break or disruption in the continuity of the bone, often occurring as a result of an external force. The break can occur anywhere on the surface of the bone.

Front 15

The bones that make up the lower leg are called the:

Back 15

tibia and the fibula.

Reason: The bones that make up the lower leg are called the tibia and the fibula. (ECTSI 8, p. 642)

Front 16

Bones are able to move because they are attached to:

Back 16

voluntary muscles.

Reason: Voluntary, or skeletal, muscle allows bones to move. (ECTSI 8, p. 640)

Front 17

After transferring care of your patient to the emergency department physician, he tells you that he suspects the patient has suffered from a comminuted fracture. What does this mean?

Back 17

The fractured bone was broken in more than two fragments.

Reason: A comminuted fracture occurs when the bone is broken in more than two fragments. (ECTSI 8, p. 645)

Front 18

Proper immobilization of a fractured knee would include the:

Back 18

ankle, tibia, fibula, femur, and hip.

Reason: The entire extremity, including the hip, should be immobilized. (ECTSI 8, pp. 672 - 673)

Front 19

A 53-year-old man leaps from a third-floor apartment window to escape a fire. The man tumbles in midair but manages to land on his feet. The most appropriate course of action is to first:

Back 19

assess and treat the patient for possible lower extremity and spinal fractures.

Reason: In this situation, you should suspect impacted fractures of the lower extremities and possible fractures of the spine. (ECTSI 8, pp. 674 - 675)

Front 20

One of the functions of the skeletal system is to:

Back 20

serve as a reservoir for calcium, phosphorus, and other body chemicals.

Reason: One function of the skeletal system is to serve as a reservoir for calcium, phosphorus, and other body chemicals. (ECTSI 8, p. 641)