ATLS 11TH EDITION POST TEST FINAL
STUDY GUIDE 2026 TESTED ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ Treat all patients with open fractures as soon as possible with iv
antibiotics
Answer: cephalosporins are necessary for all open fractures
⩥ operative revascularization to an avascular extremity is important to
treat emergently.
Answer: muscle necrosis begins where there is a lack of blood flow for 6
hours. is there is an associated fracture deformity, correct it by gently
pulling the limb out to length, realigning the fracture and splinting the
injured extremity. This maneuver can restore the blood flow
⩥ High risk activities that can cause compartment syndrome include:
Answer: excessive exercise
burns
severe crush injury to muscle
localized prolonged external pressure to an extremity
increased capillary permeability secondary to reperfusion of ischemic
muscle.
,⩥ Compartment syndrome is a clinical diagnosis and pressure
measurements are only an adjunct to aid in its diagnosis. a pressure
greater than 30 can cause anoxia.
Answer: the absence of a palpable distal pulse is an uncommon or late
finding and is not necessary to diagnose compartment syndrome.
Capillary refill times are also unreliable
weakness or paralysis of the involved muscle is a late sign and indicates
nerve or muscle damage
the lower the systemic pressure, the lower the compartment pressure that
causes compartment syndrome
⩥ risk of tetanus:
Answer: wounds that are more than 6 hours old
contused or abraded
more than 1cm in depth
from high velocity missiles
due to burns or cold
significantly contaminated
ischemic tissue or denervated wounds
, ⩥ True or false? on page 162. To exclude occult dislocation and
concomitant injury, x ray films must include the joints above and below
the suspected fracture site
Answer: true. unless life threatening, splinting of extremity injuries
should be done during the secondary survey.
⩥ do not apply traction to patients with an ipsilateral tibia shaft fracture.
Answer: true
⩥ Laryngeal Trauma presents as hoarseness, subcutaneous emphysema,
and palpable fracture
Answer: true. sounds of airway obstruction and include snoring,
gurgling, stridor, hoarseness, cyanosis, agitation
⩥ LEMON assessment for difficult airway
Answer: Look, evaluate 3-3-2 rule, mallampati, obstruction, neck
mobility
⩥ Do not give a nasopharyngeal airway to someone suspected of having
a cribriform plate fracture.
Answer: also do not give nasotracheal intubation to patients with basillar
skull fracture
STUDY GUIDE 2026 TESTED ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ Treat all patients with open fractures as soon as possible with iv
antibiotics
Answer: cephalosporins are necessary for all open fractures
⩥ operative revascularization to an avascular extremity is important to
treat emergently.
Answer: muscle necrosis begins where there is a lack of blood flow for 6
hours. is there is an associated fracture deformity, correct it by gently
pulling the limb out to length, realigning the fracture and splinting the
injured extremity. This maneuver can restore the blood flow
⩥ High risk activities that can cause compartment syndrome include:
Answer: excessive exercise
burns
severe crush injury to muscle
localized prolonged external pressure to an extremity
increased capillary permeability secondary to reperfusion of ischemic
muscle.
,⩥ Compartment syndrome is a clinical diagnosis and pressure
measurements are only an adjunct to aid in its diagnosis. a pressure
greater than 30 can cause anoxia.
Answer: the absence of a palpable distal pulse is an uncommon or late
finding and is not necessary to diagnose compartment syndrome.
Capillary refill times are also unreliable
weakness or paralysis of the involved muscle is a late sign and indicates
nerve or muscle damage
the lower the systemic pressure, the lower the compartment pressure that
causes compartment syndrome
⩥ risk of tetanus:
Answer: wounds that are more than 6 hours old
contused or abraded
more than 1cm in depth
from high velocity missiles
due to burns or cold
significantly contaminated
ischemic tissue or denervated wounds
, ⩥ True or false? on page 162. To exclude occult dislocation and
concomitant injury, x ray films must include the joints above and below
the suspected fracture site
Answer: true. unless life threatening, splinting of extremity injuries
should be done during the secondary survey.
⩥ do not apply traction to patients with an ipsilateral tibia shaft fracture.
Answer: true
⩥ Laryngeal Trauma presents as hoarseness, subcutaneous emphysema,
and palpable fracture
Answer: true. sounds of airway obstruction and include snoring,
gurgling, stridor, hoarseness, cyanosis, agitation
⩥ LEMON assessment for difficult airway
Answer: Look, evaluate 3-3-2 rule, mallampati, obstruction, neck
mobility
⩥ Do not give a nasopharyngeal airway to someone suspected of having
a cribriform plate fracture.
Answer: also do not give nasotracheal intubation to patients with basillar
skull fracture
