ATLS study cards With Complete Solution
Latest practice questions with correct
answers graded A
Vertical shear fracture - ANSWER>>Line of three fractures commonly between the
inferior, superior ramus and iliac crest
Vertical shear fracture mechanism - ANSWER>>Unilateral axial force
Vertical shear fracture appearance - ANSWER>>Three fractures through one side of
the pelvis is displaced superiorly
Arthritis - ANSWER>>joint inflammation
arthritis mechanism - ANSWER>>Age caused degeneration
Arthritis appearance - ANSWER>>Irregular bone margins and narrowed joint spaces
Hangman's fracture - ANSWER>>Fracture of the C2 pedicles
Hangman's mechanism - ANSWER>>Forced distraction and extension
Hangman's appearance - ANSWER>>Vertically oriented fracture in the posterior aspect
of C2
Jefferson's fracture - ANSWER>>Bone fracture of the C1 vertebrae
Jefferson's mechanism - ANSWER>>High energy axial load e.g. diving in shallow water
Jefferson's appearance - ANSWER>>First cervical vertebrae fractured in 2 or more
places, uneven distance between C1 and C2
Clay Shoveler's Fracture - ANSWER>>Avulsion fracture of the spinous process of C6 or
C7
Clay Shoveler's mechanism - ANSWER>>Hyperflexion/ extension with an decelerative
or accelerative force
Teardrop fracture - ANSWER>>Small oblique fracture of the anterior inferior vertebral
body comprising stability of multiple vertebrae
Extension teardrop fracture - ANSWER>>C2
, Flexion teardrop fracture - ANSWER>>C5/6 (very serious)
Teardrop mechanism - ANSWER>>Can be flexion or extension most commonly related
to MVA
Teardrop appearance - ANSWER>>Small chip or the anterior cervical vertebrae
Wedge fracture - ANSWER>>Comminuted fracture of a vertebral body on one point
Wedge mechanism - ANSWER>>Compression axial force
Wedge appearance - ANSWER>>Compressed vertebral body into a wedge shape
usually anteriorly
Burst fracture - ANSWER>>Communicated fracture of a vertebral body with the addition
of retropulsion of body structures
Burst mechanism - ANSWER>>Compression axial force
Burst appearance - ANSWER>>Wedge looking fracture with disruptions of one of the
vertebral lines
Odontoid peg fracture - ANSWER>>Fracture of the C2 odontoid process
Odontoid peg appearance - ANSWER>>Three types
Zygapophyseal joint dislocation - ANSWER>>Anterior displacement of one vertebral
body on another
Zygapophyseal joint mechanism - ANSWER>>Distraction and force or striking the
posterior aspect
Zygapophyseal joint appearance - ANSWER>>Vertebral body out of line
atlanto-occipital dislocation - ANSWER>>Ligamentous separation of the spinal column
from the skull base
Atlanto-occipital dislocation mechanism - ANSWER>>Distractionary force
atlanto-occipital joint dislocation appearance - ANSWER>>Gap between the cervical
spine and skill base
Vertebral osteophytes and cervical stenosis - ANSWER>>Condition where the spinal
canal is too small for spinal cord and nerve routes
Latest practice questions with correct
answers graded A
Vertical shear fracture - ANSWER>>Line of three fractures commonly between the
inferior, superior ramus and iliac crest
Vertical shear fracture mechanism - ANSWER>>Unilateral axial force
Vertical shear fracture appearance - ANSWER>>Three fractures through one side of
the pelvis is displaced superiorly
Arthritis - ANSWER>>joint inflammation
arthritis mechanism - ANSWER>>Age caused degeneration
Arthritis appearance - ANSWER>>Irregular bone margins and narrowed joint spaces
Hangman's fracture - ANSWER>>Fracture of the C2 pedicles
Hangman's mechanism - ANSWER>>Forced distraction and extension
Hangman's appearance - ANSWER>>Vertically oriented fracture in the posterior aspect
of C2
Jefferson's fracture - ANSWER>>Bone fracture of the C1 vertebrae
Jefferson's mechanism - ANSWER>>High energy axial load e.g. diving in shallow water
Jefferson's appearance - ANSWER>>First cervical vertebrae fractured in 2 or more
places, uneven distance between C1 and C2
Clay Shoveler's Fracture - ANSWER>>Avulsion fracture of the spinous process of C6 or
C7
Clay Shoveler's mechanism - ANSWER>>Hyperflexion/ extension with an decelerative
or accelerative force
Teardrop fracture - ANSWER>>Small oblique fracture of the anterior inferior vertebral
body comprising stability of multiple vertebrae
Extension teardrop fracture - ANSWER>>C2
, Flexion teardrop fracture - ANSWER>>C5/6 (very serious)
Teardrop mechanism - ANSWER>>Can be flexion or extension most commonly related
to MVA
Teardrop appearance - ANSWER>>Small chip or the anterior cervical vertebrae
Wedge fracture - ANSWER>>Comminuted fracture of a vertebral body on one point
Wedge mechanism - ANSWER>>Compression axial force
Wedge appearance - ANSWER>>Compressed vertebral body into a wedge shape
usually anteriorly
Burst fracture - ANSWER>>Communicated fracture of a vertebral body with the addition
of retropulsion of body structures
Burst mechanism - ANSWER>>Compression axial force
Burst appearance - ANSWER>>Wedge looking fracture with disruptions of one of the
vertebral lines
Odontoid peg fracture - ANSWER>>Fracture of the C2 odontoid process
Odontoid peg appearance - ANSWER>>Three types
Zygapophyseal joint dislocation - ANSWER>>Anterior displacement of one vertebral
body on another
Zygapophyseal joint mechanism - ANSWER>>Distraction and force or striking the
posterior aspect
Zygapophyseal joint appearance - ANSWER>>Vertebral body out of line
atlanto-occipital dislocation - ANSWER>>Ligamentous separation of the spinal column
from the skull base
Atlanto-occipital dislocation mechanism - ANSWER>>Distractionary force
atlanto-occipital joint dislocation appearance - ANSWER>>Gap between the cervical
spine and skill base
Vertebral osteophytes and cervical stenosis - ANSWER>>Condition where the spinal
canal is too small for spinal cord and nerve routes
