1|Page
NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery –
Surgical First
Assistant Certification Prep latest
Update
2026/2027
Primary purpose of a robotic device designed to hold and
maneuver a laparoscope ......ANSWER......Eliminate
tremor associated with operating an endoscope
Most important considerations when preventing wound
infection ......ANSWER......Pathogen transmission,
portal of entry, invasion of host
Tendon autograft most commonly used for ACL
reconstruction ......ANSWER......Patellar tendon
Normal RBC range in adult male CBC ......ANSWER......4.6-
6.2 × 10⁶/nL
Skin organism that commonly causes wound infections
......ANSWER......Staphylococcus aureus
Desired effect of partially threaded cancellous
screw ......ANSWER......Compression
pg. 1 NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery – Surgical First Assistant Certification Prep latest Update 2026-2027
,2|Page
Position of chest drainage system during transfer
......ANSWER......Maintained below the patient's chest
level
Bones that make up pelvic
girdle ......ANSWER......Coccyx, sacrum, os coxae
Reason arteries are unclamped/reclamped during carotid
endarterectomy ......ANSWER......Flush free debris from
the carotid
Artery commonly injured causing epidural
hematoma ......ANSWER......Middle meningeal artery
Artery cannula tip directed into during
CPB ......ANSWER......Aorta
Example of a high-level
disinfectant ......ANSWER......Glutaraldehyde
Infected wound left open and closed
later ......ANSWER......Delayed primary closure
pg. 2 NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery – Surgical First Assistant Certification Prep latest Update 2026-2027
, 3|Page
Long-term complication of cemented total hip
arthroplasty ......ANSWER......Loosening of the
prosthesis
Lag screw placement during compression hip screw
fixation
......ANSWER......Within 1 cm of the femoral articular
surface
Cause of hypotension and respiratory failure after
epidural bolus
......ANSWER......Migration of epidural catheter
through the dura
Main consideration in surgical needle
selection ......ANSWER......Minimize trauma
Structure to identify/protect in posterolateral hip
approach ......ANSWER......Sciatic nerve
Defects in Tetralogy of Fallot ......ANSWER......Ventricular
Septal Defect, pulmonary stenosis, Right
Ventricular hypertrophy
Principle used when pulling on wrist to reduce radius
fracture ......ANSWER......Traction-countertraction
pg. 3 NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery – Surgical First Assistant Certification Prep latest Update 2026-2027
NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery –
Surgical First
Assistant Certification Prep latest
Update
2026/2027
Primary purpose of a robotic device designed to hold and
maneuver a laparoscope ......ANSWER......Eliminate
tremor associated with operating an endoscope
Most important considerations when preventing wound
infection ......ANSWER......Pathogen transmission,
portal of entry, invasion of host
Tendon autograft most commonly used for ACL
reconstruction ......ANSWER......Patellar tendon
Normal RBC range in adult male CBC ......ANSWER......4.6-
6.2 × 10⁶/nL
Skin organism that commonly causes wound infections
......ANSWER......Staphylococcus aureus
Desired effect of partially threaded cancellous
screw ......ANSWER......Compression
pg. 1 NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery – Surgical First Assistant Certification Prep latest Update 2026-2027
,2|Page
Position of chest drainage system during transfer
......ANSWER......Maintained below the patient's chest
level
Bones that make up pelvic
girdle ......ANSWER......Coccyx, sacrum, os coxae
Reason arteries are unclamped/reclamped during carotid
endarterectomy ......ANSWER......Flush free debris from
the carotid
Artery commonly injured causing epidural
hematoma ......ANSWER......Middle meningeal artery
Artery cannula tip directed into during
CPB ......ANSWER......Aorta
Example of a high-level
disinfectant ......ANSWER......Glutaraldehyde
Infected wound left open and closed
later ......ANSWER......Delayed primary closure
pg. 2 NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery – Surgical First Assistant Certification Prep latest Update 2026-2027
, 3|Page
Long-term complication of cemented total hip
arthroplasty ......ANSWER......Loosening of the
prosthesis
Lag screw placement during compression hip screw
fixation
......ANSWER......Within 1 cm of the femoral articular
surface
Cause of hypotension and respiratory failure after
epidural bolus
......ANSWER......Migration of epidural catheter
through the dura
Main consideration in surgical needle
selection ......ANSWER......Minimize trauma
Structure to identify/protect in posterolateral hip
approach ......ANSWER......Sciatic nerve
Defects in Tetralogy of Fallot ......ANSWER......Ventricular
Septal Defect, pulmonary stenosis, Right
Ventricular hypertrophy
Principle used when pulling on wrist to reduce radius
fracture ......ANSWER......Traction-countertraction
pg. 3 NBSTSA CSFA Exam Mastery – Surgical First Assistant Certification Prep latest Update 2026-2027
