1|Page
SURGICAL FIRST ASSIST EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED ANSWER KEY FOR (2026|2027) EXAM
Which of the following tendon autografts is MOST typically utilized
when performing ACL reconstruction? ......ANSWER......patellar
What is the normal range of red blood cells in a complete blood count
for an adult male? ......ANSWER......4.6 - 6.2 million/nl
Which of the following organisms normally found on the skin can cause
wound infections? ......ANSWER......Staphylococcus aureus
Which of the following is the desired effect when applying a partially
threaded cancellous screw to a bone fragment
A. distraction
B. rotation
C. compression
D. subluxation ......ANSWER......compression
When transferring a thoracotomy patient to recovery, the chest
drainage system should be ......ANSWER......maintained below the
patient's chest level
Which of the following bones make up the pelvic girdle?
pg. 1
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1. coccyx
2. acetabulum
3. sacrum
4. os coxae ......ANSWER......coccyx, sacrum, os coxae
During a carotic endarterectomy, the arteries are unclamped and
reclamped before arteriotomy closure is performed to
......ANSWER......flush free debris from the carotid
Injury to which of the following arteries is commonly seen in the
temporal lobes, where the skull is the thinnest and meningeal blood
vessels are numerous, and is the usual cause of epidural hematomas?
......ANSWER......middle meningeal
Epidural hematoma is typically caused by trauma to what artery?
......ANSWER......middle meningeal
During arterial cannulation in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the
cannula tip must be directed into which of the following arteries?
......ANSWER......aorta
Which of the following is an example of a high level disinfection agent?
A. glutaraldehyde
B. isopropyl alcohol
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C. quaternary ammonium
D. iodophor solution ......ANSWER......glutaraldehyde
A wound that is known to be infected at the time of surgery and is left
open to be closed at a later date is categorized as
......ANSWER......delayed primary closure
first intention ......ANSWER......Primary closure of a wound.
secondary intention (granulation) ......ANSWER......secondary intention
(granulation)Allowing a wound to close on it's own.
A long-term complication of a cemented total hip arthroplasty is
......ANSWER......loosening of the prosthesis
When preforming compression hip screw fixation, the lag screw is
inserted ......ANSWER......within 1 cm of the femoral articular surface
After receiving a preoperative epidural catheter, a patient is given a
bolus of local anesthetic intraoperatively. The patient then
demonstrates signs of hypotension and complete respiratory failure.
Which of the following is the MOST likely cause
......ANSWER......migration of the epidural catheter through the dura
pg. 3
SURGICAL FIRST ASSIST EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED ANSWER KEY FOR (2026|2027) EXAM
Which of the following tendon autografts is MOST typically utilized
when performing ACL reconstruction? ......ANSWER......patellar
What is the normal range of red blood cells in a complete blood count
for an adult male? ......ANSWER......4.6 - 6.2 million/nl
Which of the following organisms normally found on the skin can cause
wound infections? ......ANSWER......Staphylococcus aureus
Which of the following is the desired effect when applying a partially
threaded cancellous screw to a bone fragment
A. distraction
B. rotation
C. compression
D. subluxation ......ANSWER......compression
When transferring a thoracotomy patient to recovery, the chest
drainage system should be ......ANSWER......maintained below the
patient's chest level
Which of the following bones make up the pelvic girdle?
pg. 1
,2|Page
1. coccyx
2. acetabulum
3. sacrum
4. os coxae ......ANSWER......coccyx, sacrum, os coxae
During a carotic endarterectomy, the arteries are unclamped and
reclamped before arteriotomy closure is performed to
......ANSWER......flush free debris from the carotid
Injury to which of the following arteries is commonly seen in the
temporal lobes, where the skull is the thinnest and meningeal blood
vessels are numerous, and is the usual cause of epidural hematomas?
......ANSWER......middle meningeal
Epidural hematoma is typically caused by trauma to what artery?
......ANSWER......middle meningeal
During arterial cannulation in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the
cannula tip must be directed into which of the following arteries?
......ANSWER......aorta
Which of the following is an example of a high level disinfection agent?
A. glutaraldehyde
B. isopropyl alcohol
pg. 2
, 3|Page
C. quaternary ammonium
D. iodophor solution ......ANSWER......glutaraldehyde
A wound that is known to be infected at the time of surgery and is left
open to be closed at a later date is categorized as
......ANSWER......delayed primary closure
first intention ......ANSWER......Primary closure of a wound.
secondary intention (granulation) ......ANSWER......secondary intention
(granulation)Allowing a wound to close on it's own.
A long-term complication of a cemented total hip arthroplasty is
......ANSWER......loosening of the prosthesis
When preforming compression hip screw fixation, the lag screw is
inserted ......ANSWER......within 1 cm of the femoral articular surface
After receiving a preoperative epidural catheter, a patient is given a
bolus of local anesthetic intraoperatively. The patient then
demonstrates signs of hypotension and complete respiratory failure.
Which of the following is the MOST likely cause
......ANSWER......migration of the epidural catheter through the dura
pg. 3
