ATLS Study Cards Terms And Explanations( Complete
Solution Guide)
Glasgow
Coma
Scale Correct Answer:
Chance fracture Correct Answer: Transverse fracture through vertebra.
In children usually associated with enterc disruption. Seen in motor vehicle
accidents involving only lap belt.
May be associated with retroperitoneal and Abdominal visceral injuries.
Anterior hip dislocation Correct Answer: Flexed, abducted, externally rotated.
Burst fracture Correct Answer: Associated with vertebral-axial compression
injuries
Posterior hip dislocation Correct Answer: Flexed, aDDucted, internally rotated
Anterior shoulder dislocation Correct Answer: Squared off appearance
Posterior shoulder dislocation Correct Answer: Lock in internal rotation.
Ankle dislocation Correct Answer: Most are Externally rotated, with a prominent
medial malleolus.
FULL thickness (3rd degree) burn Correct Answer: Dark or white and leathery.
Translucent white as well. Painless and generally "dry" Does not blanch with
pressure. Very little swelling of burned tissue.
Principle Life saving measures for patients with burn injuries include Correct
Answer: -Establishing airway control
-Stopping the burning. process
-Intravenous access
Factors that increase the risk for upper AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION in burns
include: Correct Answer: -Burns to the head and face
-Burn size and depth
-Burns inside the mouth
,Partial thickness burn Correct Answer: Red remodeled appearance with associated
swelling and blister formation. May have weeping or wet appearance and is
painfully hypersensitive even to air current.
Signs and symptoms and history that suggest INHALATION INJURY include:
Correct Answer: These patients should be intubated. Inhalation injury is an
indication for transfer to a burn center.
Rule of nines - adult Correct Answer: The palm represents 1% of the body total
surface area.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and respective levels Correct Answer:
PaO2 does not reliably predict carbon monoxide poisoning because a CO partial
pressure of only 1 mmm Hg results in a hemoglobin CO level of 40% or greater.
Carbon monoxide has how many times greater affinity for hemoglobin than
oxygen Correct Answer: 240 times.
It displaces the oxyhemoglobin desaturated curve to the LEFT.
Two criteria required for the diagnosis of smoke inhalation injury Correct Answer:
-Exposure to a combustible agent
-Signs of exposure to smoke in the lower airway, below the vocal cords, by
bronchoscopy.
Performing this action will help reduce neck and chest wall edema in patients with
burn and inhalation injury. Correct Answer: Elevation of the head and chest by 30
degrees.
IV fluid administration formula for burn victims Correct Answer: Indicated in
burns involving over 20% of the body surface area.
*(2-4 mL/kg of LR/NS) (weight in kg) (% area of burn); give 1/2 of this volume in
first 8 hours. Remainder in over 16 hours.
Large caliber, at least 15 gauge intravenous line should be introduced.
, Pitfalls for IV fluid requirements for burn victims. Correct Answer: These patients
require greater fluid requirements: ~immolation injury
~pediatric burn victims
~concomitant blunt or crush
injuries.
Basic rules regarding IV fluids administration in burn victims Correct Answer: IV
fluid Rate should not be based on the time of actual injury.
In very small children, less than 10 kilograms, it may be necessary to add glucose
to the IV fluids to avoid hypoglycemia.
Any adjustment in IV fluid rate should be based on urine output. In an adult, urine
output above 0.5 ml/ kilogram should result in reduction of IV fluid rate.
Initial treatment of frostbite/ cold injuries Correct Answer: Place injured part in
circulating water and a constant 40 degrees centigrade until pink color and
perfusion return, usually within 20 to 30 minutes.
Antibiotics are not indicated empirically unless infection develops later.
Persisted ACIDEMIA in burn victims may reflect... Correct Answer: Cyanide
poisoning. (Cyanide is a naturally occurring toxin that may be inhaled in a
confined space fire).
Hypothermia
Severe hypothermia Correct Answer: Core temperature of 36 degrees centigrade
Temperature below 32 degrees centigrade
Definition of frostbite. Correct Answer: Freezing of tissue with intracellular ice
crystal formation, microvascular occlusion, subsequent tissue anoxia.
First degree frostbite Correct Answer: Hyperemia and edema without skin
necrosis
Second-degree frostbite Correct Answer: Large clear vesicle formation
accompanies hyperemia and edema with partial thickness skin necrosis
Solution Guide)
Glasgow
Coma
Scale Correct Answer:
Chance fracture Correct Answer: Transverse fracture through vertebra.
In children usually associated with enterc disruption. Seen in motor vehicle
accidents involving only lap belt.
May be associated with retroperitoneal and Abdominal visceral injuries.
Anterior hip dislocation Correct Answer: Flexed, abducted, externally rotated.
Burst fracture Correct Answer: Associated with vertebral-axial compression
injuries
Posterior hip dislocation Correct Answer: Flexed, aDDucted, internally rotated
Anterior shoulder dislocation Correct Answer: Squared off appearance
Posterior shoulder dislocation Correct Answer: Lock in internal rotation.
Ankle dislocation Correct Answer: Most are Externally rotated, with a prominent
medial malleolus.
FULL thickness (3rd degree) burn Correct Answer: Dark or white and leathery.
Translucent white as well. Painless and generally "dry" Does not blanch with
pressure. Very little swelling of burned tissue.
Principle Life saving measures for patients with burn injuries include Correct
Answer: -Establishing airway control
-Stopping the burning. process
-Intravenous access
Factors that increase the risk for upper AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION in burns
include: Correct Answer: -Burns to the head and face
-Burn size and depth
-Burns inside the mouth
,Partial thickness burn Correct Answer: Red remodeled appearance with associated
swelling and blister formation. May have weeping or wet appearance and is
painfully hypersensitive even to air current.
Signs and symptoms and history that suggest INHALATION INJURY include:
Correct Answer: These patients should be intubated. Inhalation injury is an
indication for transfer to a burn center.
Rule of nines - adult Correct Answer: The palm represents 1% of the body total
surface area.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and respective levels Correct Answer:
PaO2 does not reliably predict carbon monoxide poisoning because a CO partial
pressure of only 1 mmm Hg results in a hemoglobin CO level of 40% or greater.
Carbon monoxide has how many times greater affinity for hemoglobin than
oxygen Correct Answer: 240 times.
It displaces the oxyhemoglobin desaturated curve to the LEFT.
Two criteria required for the diagnosis of smoke inhalation injury Correct Answer:
-Exposure to a combustible agent
-Signs of exposure to smoke in the lower airway, below the vocal cords, by
bronchoscopy.
Performing this action will help reduce neck and chest wall edema in patients with
burn and inhalation injury. Correct Answer: Elevation of the head and chest by 30
degrees.
IV fluid administration formula for burn victims Correct Answer: Indicated in
burns involving over 20% of the body surface area.
*(2-4 mL/kg of LR/NS) (weight in kg) (% area of burn); give 1/2 of this volume in
first 8 hours. Remainder in over 16 hours.
Large caliber, at least 15 gauge intravenous line should be introduced.
, Pitfalls for IV fluid requirements for burn victims. Correct Answer: These patients
require greater fluid requirements: ~immolation injury
~pediatric burn victims
~concomitant blunt or crush
injuries.
Basic rules regarding IV fluids administration in burn victims Correct Answer: IV
fluid Rate should not be based on the time of actual injury.
In very small children, less than 10 kilograms, it may be necessary to add glucose
to the IV fluids to avoid hypoglycemia.
Any adjustment in IV fluid rate should be based on urine output. In an adult, urine
output above 0.5 ml/ kilogram should result in reduction of IV fluid rate.
Initial treatment of frostbite/ cold injuries Correct Answer: Place injured part in
circulating water and a constant 40 degrees centigrade until pink color and
perfusion return, usually within 20 to 30 minutes.
Antibiotics are not indicated empirically unless infection develops later.
Persisted ACIDEMIA in burn victims may reflect... Correct Answer: Cyanide
poisoning. (Cyanide is a naturally occurring toxin that may be inhaled in a
confined space fire).
Hypothermia
Severe hypothermia Correct Answer: Core temperature of 36 degrees centigrade
Temperature below 32 degrees centigrade
Definition of frostbite. Correct Answer: Freezing of tissue with intracellular ice
crystal formation, microvascular occlusion, subsequent tissue anoxia.
First degree frostbite Correct Answer: Hyperemia and edema without skin
necrosis
Second-degree frostbite Correct Answer: Large clear vesicle formation
accompanies hyperemia and edema with partial thickness skin necrosis
