ATLS PRE TEST QUESTIONS

ATLS PRE TEST QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
UPDATED 2022/2023
Missed/associated injury with a displaced thoracic spine fracture? - ANSWER:
thoracic aortic rupture

Missed/associated injury of a posterior knee dislocation? - ANSWER: femoral
fracture and posterior hip dislocation

Missed/associated injury of a knee dislocation or displaced tibial plateau fracture? -
ANSWER: Popliteal artery and nerve injuries

Missed/associated injury of a calcaneal fracture? - ANSWER: Spine injury or fracture,
tibial plateau fracture

When are most extremity injuries appropriately dianogsed and managed? -
ANSWER: During secondary survey

Injury to which nerves causes wrist drop and foot drop? - ANSWER: radial and
peroneal nerve respectively

What is the normal ratio between the blood pressure at the ankle divided by that of
an uninjured arm? - ANSWER: 0.9, if below, means potential injury exist.

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to C5? Which nerve is
this? - ANSWER: The lateral aspect of the upper arm, the axillary nerve

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to C6? Which nerve is
this? - ANSWER: Palmar aspect of the thum and index finger, median nerve

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to C7? - ANSWER:
Palmar aspect of the long finger

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to C8? Which nerve? -
ANSWER: Palmar aspect of the little finger, the ulnar nerve

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to T1? - ANSWER:
Medial aspect of the forearm

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to L3? - ANSWER:
Medial aspect of the thigh

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to L4? - ANSWER:
Medial aspect of the lower leg, especially over the medial malleolus

, When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to L5? Associated nerve?
- ANSWER: Dorsum of the foot between the first and second toes (common
peroneal)

When testing sensation, what area of the body corresponds to S1? - ANSWER:
Lateral aspect of the foot

When testing motor function, what motion tests for C5? what is the associated
nerve? - ANSWER: Shoulder abduction, axillary nerve

When testing motor function, what motion tests for C6? what is the associated
nerve? - ANSWER: Elbow flexion (C5 and C6), musculocutaneous nerve

Which brachial nerves are tested by assessing a patient's ability to extend their
elbow? - ANSWER: Radial nerve, C6, C7, C8

Which nerves are assessed when testing a patient's grip strength? - ANSWER:
Dorsiflexion of the wrist => radial nerve, C6
Flexion of the fingers => median and ulnar nerves, C7, C8

Which nerves are assessed when testing patient's motor ability with finger add and
abduction? - ANSWER: Ulnar nerve, C8 and T1

What movement tests a patients deep peroneal and L5 nerve motor function? -
ANSWER: Dorsiflection of the great toe and ankle

What movements tests a patient' posterior tibial and S1 nerve motor function? -
ANSWER: Plantar flexion

What is the earliest symptom/sign of compartment ischemia? - ANSWER: pain,
especially on passive stretch of invovled muscle of the injured extremity.

What is a late sign of inhalation burn injury? - ANSWER: Stridor => indiation for
immediate endotracheal intubation

Patients with greater than what % of TBSA burn require fluid resuscitation? -
ANSWER: >20%

What is the prefered solution for resuscitation of burn victims? - ANSWER: Lactated
ringers.

Why do first degree burns not require IV fluid replacement? - ANSWER: Because the
epidermis is not compromised in this type of burn

What characterizes a partial thickness burn? - ANSWER: red or mottled appearance
of the skin associated with swelling and blisher formation. Can have a weeping, wet
appearance and painfully hypersensitive.