CSTR EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Trauma Systems and Network Development*
*- Data Management and National Trauma Data Set (NTDS)*
- Conditions of Injury and Mechanism Analysis
*- Coding and Scoring Concepts (ICD-10-CM, AIS, ISS, RTS)*
- Quality Improvement and Performance Improvement (PI)
- Regulatory Accreditation and Professional Standards
Introduction
This assessment evaluates competency for the Certified Specialist in Trauma Registries (CSTR) certification.
The exam measures knowledge essential for trauma registry professionals, including data abstraction, injury
coding, severity scoring, and quality improvement methodologies. Questions are multiple-choice and
scenario-based, reflecting real-world trauma registry challenges. Emphasis is placed on accurate data
collection, regulatory compliance with American Trauma Society and American College of Surgeons
standards, and application of clinical knowledge to improve patient outcomes. Candidates must demonstrate
critical thinking in decision-making scenarios involving trauma system development, data quality assurance,
and ethical handling of patient information.
Question 1
A trauma registry is being established at a new Level II trauma center. Which of the following is the PRIMARY
reason for maintaining a trauma registry?
,A. Billing and reimbursement purposes
B. Injury control, medical research, hospital operations, and quality improvement
C. Meeting insurance company documentation requirements
D. Tracking physician performance metrics only
🟢 B. Injury control, medical research, hospital operations, and quality improvement
🔴 RATIONALE: The primary purpose of a trauma registry is injury control, medical research, hospital
operations, and quality improvement. While billing and tracking physician performance may be secondary uses,
the core mission focuses on population health, research, and continuous quality improvement.
Question 2
Which injury severity score represents a miscalculation when reported?
A. ISS of 25
B. ISS of 50
C. ISS of 75
D. ISS of 84
🟢 D. ISS of 84
🔴 RATIONALE: An Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 84 indicates a miscalculation because 75 is the highest
possible ISS score. ISS is calculated as the sum of squares of the three highest AIS codes in three body regions,
with maximum per region being 25 (5² = 25), so 25 + 25 + 25 = 75.
,Question 3
Localized pain, swelling, heat, and redness are classic symptoms of which condition?
A. Infection
B. Inflammation
C. Necrosis
D. Ischemia
🟢 B. Inflammation
🔴 RATIONALE: Localized pain, swelling, heat, and redness are cardinal signs of inflammation. The suffix "-
itis" indicates inflammation in medical terminology.
Question 4
According to AIS guidelines, the ISS is calculated as the sum of:
A. The three highest AIS codes added together
B. Squares of the 3 highest AIS codes in three body regions
C. All AIS codes in the injury record
D. The highest AIS code multiplied by 3
🟢 B. Squares of the 3 highest AIS codes in three body regions
, 🔴 RATIONALE: According to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), the ISS is the sum of the squares of the 3
highest AIS codes in three different body regions. This methodology accounts for multiple severe injuries across
body regions.
Question 5
Which of the following would be acceptable to code an ICD-10-CM code and AIS score combination?
A. 7-skin, 8-whole area
B. 5-head, 6-thorax
C. 3-extremity, 4-abdomen
D. 1-face, 2-external
🟢 A. 7-skin, 8-whole area
🔴 RATIONALE: In AIS coding, skin is coded as region 7 and whole area as region 8. This is the standard AIS
body region classification for injury coding.
Question 6
A 3-year-old girl falls from a 15-story window and sustains a compound fracture of her humerus. How should
this injury be coded?
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Trauma Systems and Network Development*
*- Data Management and National Trauma Data Set (NTDS)*
- Conditions of Injury and Mechanism Analysis
*- Coding and Scoring Concepts (ICD-10-CM, AIS, ISS, RTS)*
- Quality Improvement and Performance Improvement (PI)
- Regulatory Accreditation and Professional Standards
Introduction
This assessment evaluates competency for the Certified Specialist in Trauma Registries (CSTR) certification.
The exam measures knowledge essential for trauma registry professionals, including data abstraction, injury
coding, severity scoring, and quality improvement methodologies. Questions are multiple-choice and
scenario-based, reflecting real-world trauma registry challenges. Emphasis is placed on accurate data
collection, regulatory compliance with American Trauma Society and American College of Surgeons
standards, and application of clinical knowledge to improve patient outcomes. Candidates must demonstrate
critical thinking in decision-making scenarios involving trauma system development, data quality assurance,
and ethical handling of patient information.
Question 1
A trauma registry is being established at a new Level II trauma center. Which of the following is the PRIMARY
reason for maintaining a trauma registry?
,A. Billing and reimbursement purposes
B. Injury control, medical research, hospital operations, and quality improvement
C. Meeting insurance company documentation requirements
D. Tracking physician performance metrics only
🟢 B. Injury control, medical research, hospital operations, and quality improvement
🔴 RATIONALE: The primary purpose of a trauma registry is injury control, medical research, hospital
operations, and quality improvement. While billing and tracking physician performance may be secondary uses,
the core mission focuses on population health, research, and continuous quality improvement.
Question 2
Which injury severity score represents a miscalculation when reported?
A. ISS of 25
B. ISS of 50
C. ISS of 75
D. ISS of 84
🟢 D. ISS of 84
🔴 RATIONALE: An Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 84 indicates a miscalculation because 75 is the highest
possible ISS score. ISS is calculated as the sum of squares of the three highest AIS codes in three body regions,
with maximum per region being 25 (5² = 25), so 25 + 25 + 25 = 75.
,Question 3
Localized pain, swelling, heat, and redness are classic symptoms of which condition?
A. Infection
B. Inflammation
C. Necrosis
D. Ischemia
🟢 B. Inflammation
🔴 RATIONALE: Localized pain, swelling, heat, and redness are cardinal signs of inflammation. The suffix "-
itis" indicates inflammation in medical terminology.
Question 4
According to AIS guidelines, the ISS is calculated as the sum of:
A. The three highest AIS codes added together
B. Squares of the 3 highest AIS codes in three body regions
C. All AIS codes in the injury record
D. The highest AIS code multiplied by 3
🟢 B. Squares of the 3 highest AIS codes in three body regions
, 🔴 RATIONALE: According to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), the ISS is the sum of the squares of the 3
highest AIS codes in three different body regions. This methodology accounts for multiple severe injuries across
body regions.
Question 5
Which of the following would be acceptable to code an ICD-10-CM code and AIS score combination?
A. 7-skin, 8-whole area
B. 5-head, 6-thorax
C. 3-extremity, 4-abdomen
D. 1-face, 2-external
🟢 A. 7-skin, 8-whole area
🔴 RATIONALE: In AIS coding, skin is coded as region 7 and whole area as region 8. This is the standard AIS
body region classification for injury coding.
Question 6
A 3-year-old girl falls from a 15-story window and sustains a compound fracture of her humerus. How should
this injury be coded?
