ORTHOPEDIC NURSE LATEST
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
What is crush compartment syndrome? - ANSWERS-- Damage to a
body compartment from an external source
- Bony level: bleeding, swelling that can increase compartment pressure
and rapid muscle necrosis
- Damaged muscle tissue release myoglobin - which can rapidly
overwhelm kidneys
- Will c/o pain and swelling, but will have systemic manifestations too
- EX: extremity lodged under heavy object (car), falling asleep with limb
in position that cuts off circulation, external medical equipment (cuffs,
casts, traction, wrong surgical positioning, surgical closure of fascial
injury)
What is Rickets? - ANSWERS-- Metabolic disorder due to Vitamin D
deficiency
- Common in infants and in developing countries, US: dark skinned kids,
kids with little sun exposure, vegetarian children, etc.
- S/s: failure-to-thrive, bowing of long bones, forehead protrusion,
palpable knots between ribs, x-ray showing increase epiphyseal space,
hypocalcemia
END OF
PAGE
1
, ORTHOPEDIC NURSE LATEST
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
- TX: vitamin D supplementation and prevention in first place
What is hyperparathyroidism? How does it affect the musculoskeletal
system? - ANSWERS-- Parathyroid glands release increased amount of
parathyroid hormone; leads body to pull calcium from bone and puts it
into circulation
- Hypercalcemia is usually the first clue to this, commonly affects
middle aged women
- Lack of calcium in bones leads to weakening of bone structure
- S/s: muscle weakness & fatiguability, decreased bone density on x-ray,
decreased muscle tone
- TX: correct hypercalcemia like in osteoporosis
What is gout and what are risk factors for it? - ANSWERS-- Over-
production or under-secretion of uric acid
- Leads to accumulation of uric acid within joint
- S/s: pain, swelling, redness, warmth over affected joint
END OF
PAGE
2
, ORTHOPEDIC NURSE LATEST
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
- Over time, uric acid crystals can replace bone, can develop tophi and
kidney disease
- Risk factors: male gender, obesity, hyperlipidemia, excess alcohol
consumption/red meat/sardines/liver consumption
- TX: meds like diuretics, low-dose aspirin, B-complex vitamins,
chemotherapy
Prophylactic meds: allopurinol, colchicine, probenecid
Acute attacks: indomethacin (can lead to GI inflammation - take with
food
What is the difference between osteomalacia and osteoporosis? -
ANSWERS-Osteomalacia: decrease in mineral composition of bone,
causing softening of bone; usually due to decreased vitamin D
- Causes: dysfunctional vitamin D absorption, decreased sun exposure,
meds such as seizure meds and fluoride
- Can be reversed and treated
END OF
PAGE
3
, ORTHOPEDIC NURSE LATEST
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
Osteoporosis: decreased density and mass of bone, usually secondary to
decreased calcium
- Causes: age, lack of hormone & calcium, anti-inflams drugs
- Can be stabilized but not reversed
S/s of both: bone pain, muscle pain, fractures
Define hypoparathyroidism. - ANSWERS-- Parathyroid gland secretes
too little parathyroid hormone
- Causes: genetic, alcoholism, injury to gland d/t surgery, GI surgeries
that lead to malabsorption, liver/pancreas disease
- Marked by hypocalcemia and how that affects the body
- S/s: vague pain symptoms, anxiety, muscle rigidity, increased DTRs,
muscle spasm/cramps, paresthesias, muscle twitching
What is osteitis deformans? - ANSWERS-- Paget's disease
- Metabolic disorder in which there is increased bone breakdown, and
body compensates with rapid bone remodeling
END OF
PAGE
4
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
What is crush compartment syndrome? - ANSWERS-- Damage to a
body compartment from an external source
- Bony level: bleeding, swelling that can increase compartment pressure
and rapid muscle necrosis
- Damaged muscle tissue release myoglobin - which can rapidly
overwhelm kidneys
- Will c/o pain and swelling, but will have systemic manifestations too
- EX: extremity lodged under heavy object (car), falling asleep with limb
in position that cuts off circulation, external medical equipment (cuffs,
casts, traction, wrong surgical positioning, surgical closure of fascial
injury)
What is Rickets? - ANSWERS-- Metabolic disorder due to Vitamin D
deficiency
- Common in infants and in developing countries, US: dark skinned kids,
kids with little sun exposure, vegetarian children, etc.
- S/s: failure-to-thrive, bowing of long bones, forehead protrusion,
palpable knots between ribs, x-ray showing increase epiphyseal space,
hypocalcemia
END OF
PAGE
1
, ORTHOPEDIC NURSE LATEST
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
- TX: vitamin D supplementation and prevention in first place
What is hyperparathyroidism? How does it affect the musculoskeletal
system? - ANSWERS-- Parathyroid glands release increased amount of
parathyroid hormone; leads body to pull calcium from bone and puts it
into circulation
- Hypercalcemia is usually the first clue to this, commonly affects
middle aged women
- Lack of calcium in bones leads to weakening of bone structure
- S/s: muscle weakness & fatiguability, decreased bone density on x-ray,
decreased muscle tone
- TX: correct hypercalcemia like in osteoporosis
What is gout and what are risk factors for it? - ANSWERS-- Over-
production or under-secretion of uric acid
- Leads to accumulation of uric acid within joint
- S/s: pain, swelling, redness, warmth over affected joint
END OF
PAGE
2
, ORTHOPEDIC NURSE LATEST
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
- Over time, uric acid crystals can replace bone, can develop tophi and
kidney disease
- Risk factors: male gender, obesity, hyperlipidemia, excess alcohol
consumption/red meat/sardines/liver consumption
- TX: meds like diuretics, low-dose aspirin, B-complex vitamins,
chemotherapy
Prophylactic meds: allopurinol, colchicine, probenecid
Acute attacks: indomethacin (can lead to GI inflammation - take with
food
What is the difference between osteomalacia and osteoporosis? -
ANSWERS-Osteomalacia: decrease in mineral composition of bone,
causing softening of bone; usually due to decreased vitamin D
- Causes: dysfunctional vitamin D absorption, decreased sun exposure,
meds such as seizure meds and fluoride
- Can be reversed and treated
END OF
PAGE
3
, ORTHOPEDIC NURSE LATEST
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
Osteoporosis: decreased density and mass of bone, usually secondary to
decreased calcium
- Causes: age, lack of hormone & calcium, anti-inflams drugs
- Can be stabilized but not reversed
S/s of both: bone pain, muscle pain, fractures
Define hypoparathyroidism. - ANSWERS-- Parathyroid gland secretes
too little parathyroid hormone
- Causes: genetic, alcoholism, injury to gland d/t surgery, GI surgeries
that lead to malabsorption, liver/pancreas disease
- Marked by hypocalcemia and how that affects the body
- S/s: vague pain symptoms, anxiety, muscle rigidity, increased DTRs,
muscle spasm/cramps, paresthesias, muscle twitching
What is osteitis deformans? - ANSWERS-- Paget's disease
- Metabolic disorder in which there is increased bone breakdown, and
body compensates with rapid bone remodeling
END OF
PAGE
4
