2025 CFO STUDY GUIDE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/2026 GRADED A+
When you have an artificial leg of any kind - what is the major concern that the doctor
might have in regards to the patient? - Disease state - uncontrolled diabetes and ulcers,
neuropathy. In diabetics, we are more likely to see obesity, weaker muscles and less
athletic, more energy consumption, decreased heart function and lung capacity, kidney
function, weaker systemic function - all these things lead to higher energy consumption
- they will die from heart/cardiac complications = arterial effects - not from ulcers, etc.
What is the difference between a temporary and a definitive prosthesis? - Temporary is
worn right after surgery and definitive is worn when your limb volume stabilizes (stump
or residual limb volume stops changing).
Transfemoral amputation - what is interesting about the socket design for transfemoral
amputation? - Ischial tuberosity weight bearing, shape is quadrilateral shaped socket
with the design to push the limb back - pushes the limb back onto the ischial seat - to
push the person back onto their ischium.
Hardest amputation to fit ? - hip disarticulation or hemipelvectomy
What is the optimal length for a BKA? - 3 inches or 9 cm
If you shorten the length of the BKA - what does it do to the residual limb? - Think about
fit of the socket or prosthesis - if you make it smaller and smaller you reduce the surface
area for the weight bearing limb.
If the patient is concerned with the cosmetic appearance of a prosthesis what do you
use? Is it functional or not? - Silicone replacement - nonfunctional
If you have a lot of motion in the socket of the prosthesis - what is this due to? What
may ultimately happen to the patient? - Limb shrinkage or decrease in size of the limb,
edema goes down, shrinkage of the tissues as you get stronger. If you have excessive
movement but you made it too soon and the limb decreases in size - there will be
friction, irritation, blistering, pressure ulcer, will break down inside the prosthesis. Could
result in infection, OM, further amputation.
Which digit when amputated has the greatest effect on function? - Hallux
Which digit has the least effect upon amputation? - Single center ray - 3rd can go and
still have foot function - first ray is major effect, any of the lesser toes have little effect.
What is a prosthetist? - They are licensed professional, certified individuals that makes
prosthetic devices in response to a physician prescription.
What is a Pedorthist? - Certified licensed professional that makes foot orthoses and
shoe modifications in response to a physician prescription.
, What is an Orthosis - Any orthotic device designed to protect, align accommodate -
provide with a functional foot or limb - that kind of definition can apply to any orthosis or
brace.
If the patient is pronating on a device - if you want to increase control what are the
things you can do to increase motion control? - Increase heel depth, kirby skive,
inversion to heel cup, phlanges to bring the orthotic up around the foot to increase
control, increase the degree of varus or valgus support (via a post).
What can you do to an orthotic to help a Cavus foot type deformity? - increase the heel
height
Flexible, Soft Orthotics require a what kind of shank? Is it shank dependent or
independent? - Flexible, Soft Orthotics require a rigid shank= shank dependent
Rigid/Hard Orthotics require a what kind of shank? Is it shank dependent or
independent? - Rigid/Hard Orthotics require less shank support= shank independent.
What are some other things you can do to alter the orthotic? - Increase the arch height,
raise the arch, increase the windlass function of the foot (ability of the foot to
resupinate), add a cutout.
If you have pain at the first MTPJ - what are reasons why the first mtpj might hurt? -
Hallux limitus dorsally, sesamoids plantarly, hallux rigidus dorsally, hallux valgus
(bunion) medially.
What is happening in functional hallux limitus? What do we normally see? - No change
in x ray. You will see hypermobility of the medial column, first met cun more mobile,
more column mobility, if you can't PF the first ray as you DF, the first ray will run high
and the hallux can't get over the bump because it can't drop down --->
The ray must PF - this will happen naturally as the foot DF and transfers weight to
medial side, windlass of first ray and push off toe --- this is the normal mechanism
What could cause HL/HR? - Met Primus Elevatus/Short ray/Iatrogenic DF (structural),
hypermobility (functional)
Hallmark of Functional Limitus? - Normal ROM when NWB but decreased ROM when
loaded (Hubshure Manuver)
Best way to treat a Functional Limitus? - Plantarflex ray during casting, cut-out shell, or
do soft accommodation under 1st (kinetic wedge) w/ rigid under rest of rays.
Function of a rocker sole shoe? - Reduce pressure on any MT head (capsulitis, bunion,
digital gripping).
2025/2026 GRADED A+
When you have an artificial leg of any kind - what is the major concern that the doctor
might have in regards to the patient? - Disease state - uncontrolled diabetes and ulcers,
neuropathy. In diabetics, we are more likely to see obesity, weaker muscles and less
athletic, more energy consumption, decreased heart function and lung capacity, kidney
function, weaker systemic function - all these things lead to higher energy consumption
- they will die from heart/cardiac complications = arterial effects - not from ulcers, etc.
What is the difference between a temporary and a definitive prosthesis? - Temporary is
worn right after surgery and definitive is worn when your limb volume stabilizes (stump
or residual limb volume stops changing).
Transfemoral amputation - what is interesting about the socket design for transfemoral
amputation? - Ischial tuberosity weight bearing, shape is quadrilateral shaped socket
with the design to push the limb back - pushes the limb back onto the ischial seat - to
push the person back onto their ischium.
Hardest amputation to fit ? - hip disarticulation or hemipelvectomy
What is the optimal length for a BKA? - 3 inches or 9 cm
If you shorten the length of the BKA - what does it do to the residual limb? - Think about
fit of the socket or prosthesis - if you make it smaller and smaller you reduce the surface
area for the weight bearing limb.
If the patient is concerned with the cosmetic appearance of a prosthesis what do you
use? Is it functional or not? - Silicone replacement - nonfunctional
If you have a lot of motion in the socket of the prosthesis - what is this due to? What
may ultimately happen to the patient? - Limb shrinkage or decrease in size of the limb,
edema goes down, shrinkage of the tissues as you get stronger. If you have excessive
movement but you made it too soon and the limb decreases in size - there will be
friction, irritation, blistering, pressure ulcer, will break down inside the prosthesis. Could
result in infection, OM, further amputation.
Which digit when amputated has the greatest effect on function? - Hallux
Which digit has the least effect upon amputation? - Single center ray - 3rd can go and
still have foot function - first ray is major effect, any of the lesser toes have little effect.
What is a prosthetist? - They are licensed professional, certified individuals that makes
prosthetic devices in response to a physician prescription.
What is a Pedorthist? - Certified licensed professional that makes foot orthoses and
shoe modifications in response to a physician prescription.
, What is an Orthosis - Any orthotic device designed to protect, align accommodate -
provide with a functional foot or limb - that kind of definition can apply to any orthosis or
brace.
If the patient is pronating on a device - if you want to increase control what are the
things you can do to increase motion control? - Increase heel depth, kirby skive,
inversion to heel cup, phlanges to bring the orthotic up around the foot to increase
control, increase the degree of varus or valgus support (via a post).
What can you do to an orthotic to help a Cavus foot type deformity? - increase the heel
height
Flexible, Soft Orthotics require a what kind of shank? Is it shank dependent or
independent? - Flexible, Soft Orthotics require a rigid shank= shank dependent
Rigid/Hard Orthotics require a what kind of shank? Is it shank dependent or
independent? - Rigid/Hard Orthotics require less shank support= shank independent.
What are some other things you can do to alter the orthotic? - Increase the arch height,
raise the arch, increase the windlass function of the foot (ability of the foot to
resupinate), add a cutout.
If you have pain at the first MTPJ - what are reasons why the first mtpj might hurt? -
Hallux limitus dorsally, sesamoids plantarly, hallux rigidus dorsally, hallux valgus
(bunion) medially.
What is happening in functional hallux limitus? What do we normally see? - No change
in x ray. You will see hypermobility of the medial column, first met cun more mobile,
more column mobility, if you can't PF the first ray as you DF, the first ray will run high
and the hallux can't get over the bump because it can't drop down --->
The ray must PF - this will happen naturally as the foot DF and transfers weight to
medial side, windlass of first ray and push off toe --- this is the normal mechanism
What could cause HL/HR? - Met Primus Elevatus/Short ray/Iatrogenic DF (structural),
hypermobility (functional)
Hallmark of Functional Limitus? - Normal ROM when NWB but decreased ROM when
loaded (Hubshure Manuver)
Best way to treat a Functional Limitus? - Plantarflex ray during casting, cut-out shell, or
do soft accommodation under 1st (kinetic wedge) w/ rigid under rest of rays.
Function of a rocker sole shoe? - Reduce pressure on any MT head (capsulitis, bunion,
digital gripping).
