1|Page
ABSITE TRAUMA EXAM LATEST 2025/2026 ACTUAL EXAM WITH
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+| ||PROFESSOR
VERIFIED|| ||BRANDNEW!!!||
Indications for emergency thoracotomy after blunt chest trauma: -
ANSWER-Witnessed cardiac arrest (resuscitative thoracotomy),
massive hemothorax (>1500 mL blood immediately after chest
tube insertion or >200-300 mL/h after initial drainage)
What is the usual primary clinical manifestation after rib fracture?
- ANSWER-Pain on inspiration
How should you control the pain from rib fracture? - ANSWER-
Attempted control initially with oral or IV analgesics, consider
intercostal nerve blocks with bupivacaine versus epidural
analgesia
What is a flail chest? - ANSWER-Two or more fractures in 3 or
more consecutive ribs that causes instability of the chest wall
,2|Page
What are the most important components in the pathophysiology
of the respiratory failure associated with flail chest? - ANSWER-
Underlying pulmonary contusion, pain during inspiration—leading
to progressive atelectasis
Treatment for a sternal fracture: - ANSWER-Conservative
If significant chest wall instability/debilitating chest pain, open
reduction and internal fixation
What is a pulmonary contusion? - ANSWER-Hemorrhage and
edema of the lung parenchyma in the absence of parenchymal
disruption
Most common complication of a pulmonary contusion: -
ANSWER-Pneumonia
What clinical findings are suggestive of a pneumothorax? -
ANSWER-Decreased breath sounds, decreased expansion of the
affected lung during inspiration, hyperresonance to percussion
,3|Page
Clinical signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothorax: -
ANSWER-Diaphoresis, dyspnea, distended neck veins,
hypotension, tachypnea
How is a tension pneumothorax diagnosed? - ANSWER-Clinically
Treatment for a tension pneumothorax: - ANSWER-Chest
decompression with a large-bore needle inserted in the second
intercostal space, midclavicular line with subsequent tube
thoracostomy (test answer)
If you are a surgical resident/surgeon perform immediate tube
thoracostomy (hard to get needle into pleural space, especially in
the obese)
What is an open pneumothorax? - ANSWER-A large defect in the
chest wall (> laryngeal cross-sectional area) allows external air to
enter into the pleural cavity resulting in lung collapse from rapid
equilibration between intrathoracic (pleural) and atmospheric
pressures.
, 4|Page
Treatment for an open pneumothorax: - ANSWER-Treat initially
by sealing the defect with petroleum gauze and leave 1 side of
the gauze unsecured to allow escape of air under pressure then
perform a tube thoracostomy.
Operative repair of the chest wall defect can be performed after
other life-threatening injuries are addressed.
How many liters of blood can the pleural space accumulate? -
ANSWER-3 L blood
Treatment options for massive hemorrhage from an extensive
lung injury: - ANSWER-Attempt oversewing or stapling of the
wound.
If initial measures fail, consider performing wedge or lobar
resection.
Pneumonectomy is a last resort.
What is hemodynamic consequence on traumatic
pneumonectomy? - ANSWER-Acute right heart failure
ABSITE TRAUMA EXAM LATEST 2025/2026 ACTUAL EXAM WITH
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+| ||PROFESSOR
VERIFIED|| ||BRANDNEW!!!||
Indications for emergency thoracotomy after blunt chest trauma: -
ANSWER-Witnessed cardiac arrest (resuscitative thoracotomy),
massive hemothorax (>1500 mL blood immediately after chest
tube insertion or >200-300 mL/h after initial drainage)
What is the usual primary clinical manifestation after rib fracture?
- ANSWER-Pain on inspiration
How should you control the pain from rib fracture? - ANSWER-
Attempted control initially with oral or IV analgesics, consider
intercostal nerve blocks with bupivacaine versus epidural
analgesia
What is a flail chest? - ANSWER-Two or more fractures in 3 or
more consecutive ribs that causes instability of the chest wall
,2|Page
What are the most important components in the pathophysiology
of the respiratory failure associated with flail chest? - ANSWER-
Underlying pulmonary contusion, pain during inspiration—leading
to progressive atelectasis
Treatment for a sternal fracture: - ANSWER-Conservative
If significant chest wall instability/debilitating chest pain, open
reduction and internal fixation
What is a pulmonary contusion? - ANSWER-Hemorrhage and
edema of the lung parenchyma in the absence of parenchymal
disruption
Most common complication of a pulmonary contusion: -
ANSWER-Pneumonia
What clinical findings are suggestive of a pneumothorax? -
ANSWER-Decreased breath sounds, decreased expansion of the
affected lung during inspiration, hyperresonance to percussion
,3|Page
Clinical signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothorax: -
ANSWER-Diaphoresis, dyspnea, distended neck veins,
hypotension, tachypnea
How is a tension pneumothorax diagnosed? - ANSWER-Clinically
Treatment for a tension pneumothorax: - ANSWER-Chest
decompression with a large-bore needle inserted in the second
intercostal space, midclavicular line with subsequent tube
thoracostomy (test answer)
If you are a surgical resident/surgeon perform immediate tube
thoracostomy (hard to get needle into pleural space, especially in
the obese)
What is an open pneumothorax? - ANSWER-A large defect in the
chest wall (> laryngeal cross-sectional area) allows external air to
enter into the pleural cavity resulting in lung collapse from rapid
equilibration between intrathoracic (pleural) and atmospheric
pressures.
, 4|Page
Treatment for an open pneumothorax: - ANSWER-Treat initially
by sealing the defect with petroleum gauze and leave 1 side of
the gauze unsecured to allow escape of air under pressure then
perform a tube thoracostomy.
Operative repair of the chest wall defect can be performed after
other life-threatening injuries are addressed.
How many liters of blood can the pleural space accumulate? -
ANSWER-3 L blood
Treatment options for massive hemorrhage from an extensive
lung injury: - ANSWER-Attempt oversewing or stapling of the
wound.
If initial measures fail, consider performing wedge or lobar
resection.
Pneumonectomy is a last resort.
What is hemodynamic consequence on traumatic
pneumonectomy? - ANSWER-Acute right heart failure
