Orthopedic Nurse Certification Exam 2025–2026
Accurate Real Exam Questions and Verified
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Discuss basics of stump care. - answer>>>Important for reduction of pain, infection,
complications, and prosthetic fitting.
- once daily washing (too much washing can dry skin and break it down)
- Dry throughly and inspect prior to application of shrink wrap or prosthetics
- If you can't see stump, have someone else know how to inspect.
- Look for changes: sores, redness, warmth, changes in sensation
- Daily massage to reduce adhesions and promote desensitization
- Break in stump skin?: air for 1 hour, 4 times daily and shrinkage wraps should be
washed/replaced daily
What are the 3 types of amputation? - answer>>>CLOSED: not used in trauma, use and
preparation of skin flaps to close over amputation site; allows prep for prosthetic fitting
later
OPEN: usually after traumatic injury to a limb or when there is severe infection; left open
for secondary closure later; traction may be used to prevent retracting of skin - that way
there is a skin flap available to cover area at time of closure (if not available, grafting is
needed)
AUTOAMPUTATION: used on digits only; for patients that aren't surgical candidates; digit
frozen or gangrenous part is separated after necrotic boundary is established
List several factor that determine fracture-healing outcome. - answer>>>1) Skeletal
maturity decreases healing.
- Immature skeleton increases rate and success of healing.
,2) Single bone fracture has better prognosis than multi-bone fracture.
3) Big displacement that affect surrounding tissues requires more healing time.
4) Thoracic spine injury heals better than unstable lumbar/cervical spine injuries.
5) Fracture of joint surfaces are more unstable/difficult to treat.
6) Fracture with nearby unaffected support bone has good prognosis - acts as natural
splint.
What are the 5 stages of fracture healing? - answer>>>1) Inflammatory response with
hematoma development, lasting up to 3 days.
2) Tissue granules break up the hematoma and cartilaginous tissue forms, through 2nd
week.
3) Tissue matures and callus develops through 6 weeks.
4) Callus reaches to provide continuity to fracture site, which will eventually be replaced
by bone - 24 weeks.
5) Bone strengthens for movement and force application - 1 years time
What does MESS mean? - answer>>>MESS: Mangles Extremity Severity Score
System used to help medical providers determine if amputation or attempts at limb
salvage should be done. Scoring based on 4 things:
1) Amount of injury sustained to bone & soft tissue
2) How much blood supply to area had been affected and for how long
3) Amount of shock sustained by patient
4) Age of patient
, Score of more than 7 means amputation probable.
Differences between phantom limb pain, sensation, and telescoping phenomenon. -
answer>>>PHANTOM LIMB PAIN: pain experienced by amputee in limb that has been
amputated; up to 3 months after surgery; self-limiting and can be helped with
medication, de-sensitization, electric stem, counseling, hypnosis, acupuncture, nerve
block, etc.
PHANTOM LIMB SENSATION: similar to PLP, but sensations are not painful (can be
itching, tingling, temperature changes)
TELESCOPING PHENOMENON: sensation of amputated limb being slowly retracted into
stump; typically sensations of toes, thumbs, and index finger are last to "disappear" into
stump
Name and describe most common wrist fracture. - answer>>>Colles' fracture: break of
distal radius
- falling on outstretched hand, bracing against something on impact
- can be seen with distal ulnar fracture, scaphoid fracture
- can be angulated, displaced with multiple bony fragments
- confirmed with X-ray but needs immobilization, w/wo closed reduction (sugar tong
splint)
- 1st 72 hours: ice, elevation, anti-inflam meds
Tell pt to move shoulders and fingers. If swelling is down and fracture is stable, short-arm
cast is applied for 4-6 weeks.
Can cause carpal tunnel syndrome d/t proximity to median nerve.
Accurate Real Exam Questions and Verified
Correct Answers JUST RELEASED
Discuss basics of stump care. - answer>>>Important for reduction of pain, infection,
complications, and prosthetic fitting.
- once daily washing (too much washing can dry skin and break it down)
- Dry throughly and inspect prior to application of shrink wrap or prosthetics
- If you can't see stump, have someone else know how to inspect.
- Look for changes: sores, redness, warmth, changes in sensation
- Daily massage to reduce adhesions and promote desensitization
- Break in stump skin?: air for 1 hour, 4 times daily and shrinkage wraps should be
washed/replaced daily
What are the 3 types of amputation? - answer>>>CLOSED: not used in trauma, use and
preparation of skin flaps to close over amputation site; allows prep for prosthetic fitting
later
OPEN: usually after traumatic injury to a limb or when there is severe infection; left open
for secondary closure later; traction may be used to prevent retracting of skin - that way
there is a skin flap available to cover area at time of closure (if not available, grafting is
needed)
AUTOAMPUTATION: used on digits only; for patients that aren't surgical candidates; digit
frozen or gangrenous part is separated after necrotic boundary is established
List several factor that determine fracture-healing outcome. - answer>>>1) Skeletal
maturity decreases healing.
- Immature skeleton increases rate and success of healing.
,2) Single bone fracture has better prognosis than multi-bone fracture.
3) Big displacement that affect surrounding tissues requires more healing time.
4) Thoracic spine injury heals better than unstable lumbar/cervical spine injuries.
5) Fracture of joint surfaces are more unstable/difficult to treat.
6) Fracture with nearby unaffected support bone has good prognosis - acts as natural
splint.
What are the 5 stages of fracture healing? - answer>>>1) Inflammatory response with
hematoma development, lasting up to 3 days.
2) Tissue granules break up the hematoma and cartilaginous tissue forms, through 2nd
week.
3) Tissue matures and callus develops through 6 weeks.
4) Callus reaches to provide continuity to fracture site, which will eventually be replaced
by bone - 24 weeks.
5) Bone strengthens for movement and force application - 1 years time
What does MESS mean? - answer>>>MESS: Mangles Extremity Severity Score
System used to help medical providers determine if amputation or attempts at limb
salvage should be done. Scoring based on 4 things:
1) Amount of injury sustained to bone & soft tissue
2) How much blood supply to area had been affected and for how long
3) Amount of shock sustained by patient
4) Age of patient
, Score of more than 7 means amputation probable.
Differences between phantom limb pain, sensation, and telescoping phenomenon. -
answer>>>PHANTOM LIMB PAIN: pain experienced by amputee in limb that has been
amputated; up to 3 months after surgery; self-limiting and can be helped with
medication, de-sensitization, electric stem, counseling, hypnosis, acupuncture, nerve
block, etc.
PHANTOM LIMB SENSATION: similar to PLP, but sensations are not painful (can be
itching, tingling, temperature changes)
TELESCOPING PHENOMENON: sensation of amputated limb being slowly retracted into
stump; typically sensations of toes, thumbs, and index finger are last to "disappear" into
stump
Name and describe most common wrist fracture. - answer>>>Colles' fracture: break of
distal radius
- falling on outstretched hand, bracing against something on impact
- can be seen with distal ulnar fracture, scaphoid fracture
- can be angulated, displaced with multiple bony fragments
- confirmed with X-ray but needs immobilization, w/wo closed reduction (sugar tong
splint)
- 1st 72 hours: ice, elevation, anti-inflam meds
Tell pt to move shoulders and fingers. If swelling is down and fracture is stable, short-arm
cast is applied for 4-6 weeks.
Can cause carpal tunnel syndrome d/t proximity to median nerve.
