CAISS EXAM 2026 Updated Version
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | Complete
Test Bank with Rationales | Grade A+
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Question 1
The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) severity score for a "critical" injury is:
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5 [CORRECT]
D. 6
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The AIS severity scale uses a 1-6 ordinal scale where: 1 = minor, 2 = moderate, 3 =
serious, 4 = severe, 5 = critical, and 6 = maximal (currently untreatable). A critical injury (AIS 5)
represents a life-threatening injury with high probability of death but potential survivability with
optimal medical care (e.g., severe brain injury with GCS 3-5, cardiac tamponade, severe liver
laceration with major vascular involvement). Option A (3) represents serious injuries that are not
immediately life-threatening. Option B (4) represents severe injuries with definite threat to life.
Option D (6) represents maximal, unsurvivable injuries.
Question 2
An AIS score of 6 indicates:
A. Minor injury
B. Moderate injury
C. Critical injury
D. Maximal injury (currently untreatable) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: AIS 6 represents a maximal injury that is currently untreatable and invariably fatal
under current medical standards. Examples include massive brain stem disruption, high cervical
,cord transection with complete quadriplegia, massive hepatic avulsion, or thoracic aortic
transection with free rupture. These injuries are considered unsurvivable regardless of medical
intervention. Options A, B, and C represent lower severity levels that are potentially survivable.
Question 3
The AIS code is a 7-digit number. The first digit represents:
A. Severity
B. Body region [CORRECT]
C. Type of anatomic structure
D. Specific anatomic structure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 7-digit AIS code follows this structure: Digit 1 = Body Region (1=head, 2=face,
3=neck, 4=thorax, 5=abdomen, 6=spine, 7=upper extremity, 8=lower extremity, 9=external and
other); Digit 2 = Type of Anatomic Structure; Digits 3-4 = Specific Anatomic Structure; Digit 5 =
Level (frontal, lateral, etc.); Digits 6-7 = Severity. Severity appears at the end (digits 6-7), not the
beginning, eliminating option A. Options C and D appear in positions 2 and 3-4 respectively.
Question 4
When a patient has multiple injuries to the same body region, the AIS coding rule for ISS
calculation is to:
A. Code all injuries separately and sum their squares
B. Code only the most severe injury in that region [CORRECT]
C. Code the average severity of all injuries
D. Code only the first injury documented
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Injury Severity Score (ISS) calculation requires selecting the single most severe
injury from each of the six body regions. Only one injury per region can contribute to the ISS,
even if multiple injuries exist in that region. For example, if a patient has both an AIS 4 subdural
hematoma and an AIS 3 cerebral contusion in the head region, only the AIS 4 is used for ISS
calculation. However, all injuries should be coded in the trauma registry for complete
documentation. Option A would inappropriately inflate the ISS. Options C and D are not valid
AIS/ISS methodologies.
Question 5
,A patient has bilateral pulmonary contusions. How should this be coded according to AIS 2025
guidelines?
A. Code as a single injury with bilateral modifier [CORRECT]
B. Code as two separate injuries in the thorax region
C. Code only the more severely affected side
D. Code as two separate injuries in different body regions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: AIS 2025 allows coding of bilateral injuries as a single code with laterality specified,
typically resulting in a higher severity score than a unilateral injury but not double-counting for
ISS purposes. The bilateral nature is captured in the code structure or modifiers. Coding as two
separate injuries (B) would violate the "one injury per region" rule for ISS. Option C loses
important clinical information. Option D is anatomically incorrect as both lungs are in the thorax
region.
Question 6
Which AIS severity score indicates a "serious" injury?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3 [CORRECT]
D. 4
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: AIS 3 = serious injury (e.g., simple skull fracture, cerebral concussion with loss of
consciousness <1 hour, rib fractures without flail, spleen laceration superficial). These injuries
are not immediately life-threatening but require hospitalization and surgical intervention may be
needed. Option A (1) = minor (superficial lacerations, simple contusions). Option B (2) =
moderate (minor skull fractures, non-depressed). Option D (4) = severe (life-threatening, requires
emergency intervention).
Question 7
The AIS dictionary is organized primarily by:
A. Alphabetical listing of injury descriptions
B. Anatomic body region and specific structure [CORRECT]
C. Severity level from 1-6
, D. Mechanism of injury (blunt vs. penetrating)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The AIS dictionary is organized anatomically by body region (head, face, neck,
thorax, abdomen, spine, upper extremity, lower extremity, external) and then by specific
anatomic structures within each region. This anatomic organization allows coders to locate
injuries based on anatomical knowledge. While severity is included in each code, it is not the
primary organizational principle. Mechanism of injury may modify coding but does not organize
the dictionary.
Question 8
A patient has a penetrating gunshot wound to the abdomen. How does mechanism affect AIS
coding?
A. Penetrating mechanism automatically increases severity by 1 level
B. Penetrating wounds are coded based on anatomic injury severity regardless of mechanism
[CORRECT]
C. All penetrating wounds are coded as AIS 5
D. Penetrating wounds cannot be coded using AIS
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AIS is an anatomic severity scale, not a mechanism-based scale. The severity is
determined by the actual anatomic injury sustained, whether from blunt or penetrating
mechanism. A superficial abdominal wall penetration may be AIS 1, while a gunshot causing
liver laceration is coded based on the liver injury severity. Mechanism is documented separately
but does not automatically modify the AIS severity. Options A, C, and D misrepresent the
anatomic nature of AIS.
Question 9
Which of the following is TRUE regarding AIS code updates from AIS 2015 to AIS 2025?
A. All codes remain identical between versions
B. Some injury descriptions and severities have been revised based on clinical outcomes data
[CORRECT]
C. The 7-digit code structure has been eliminated
D. Severity scores are now assigned by computer algorithm only
Correct Answer: B
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | Complete
Test Bank with Rationales | Grade A+
Assured | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Question 1
The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) severity score for a "critical" injury is:
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5 [CORRECT]
D. 6
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The AIS severity scale uses a 1-6 ordinal scale where: 1 = minor, 2 = moderate, 3 =
serious, 4 = severe, 5 = critical, and 6 = maximal (currently untreatable). A critical injury (AIS 5)
represents a life-threatening injury with high probability of death but potential survivability with
optimal medical care (e.g., severe brain injury with GCS 3-5, cardiac tamponade, severe liver
laceration with major vascular involvement). Option A (3) represents serious injuries that are not
immediately life-threatening. Option B (4) represents severe injuries with definite threat to life.
Option D (6) represents maximal, unsurvivable injuries.
Question 2
An AIS score of 6 indicates:
A. Minor injury
B. Moderate injury
C. Critical injury
D. Maximal injury (currently untreatable) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: AIS 6 represents a maximal injury that is currently untreatable and invariably fatal
under current medical standards. Examples include massive brain stem disruption, high cervical
,cord transection with complete quadriplegia, massive hepatic avulsion, or thoracic aortic
transection with free rupture. These injuries are considered unsurvivable regardless of medical
intervention. Options A, B, and C represent lower severity levels that are potentially survivable.
Question 3
The AIS code is a 7-digit number. The first digit represents:
A. Severity
B. Body region [CORRECT]
C. Type of anatomic structure
D. Specific anatomic structure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 7-digit AIS code follows this structure: Digit 1 = Body Region (1=head, 2=face,
3=neck, 4=thorax, 5=abdomen, 6=spine, 7=upper extremity, 8=lower extremity, 9=external and
other); Digit 2 = Type of Anatomic Structure; Digits 3-4 = Specific Anatomic Structure; Digit 5 =
Level (frontal, lateral, etc.); Digits 6-7 = Severity. Severity appears at the end (digits 6-7), not the
beginning, eliminating option A. Options C and D appear in positions 2 and 3-4 respectively.
Question 4
When a patient has multiple injuries to the same body region, the AIS coding rule for ISS
calculation is to:
A. Code all injuries separately and sum their squares
B. Code only the most severe injury in that region [CORRECT]
C. Code the average severity of all injuries
D. Code only the first injury documented
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Injury Severity Score (ISS) calculation requires selecting the single most severe
injury from each of the six body regions. Only one injury per region can contribute to the ISS,
even if multiple injuries exist in that region. For example, if a patient has both an AIS 4 subdural
hematoma and an AIS 3 cerebral contusion in the head region, only the AIS 4 is used for ISS
calculation. However, all injuries should be coded in the trauma registry for complete
documentation. Option A would inappropriately inflate the ISS. Options C and D are not valid
AIS/ISS methodologies.
Question 5
,A patient has bilateral pulmonary contusions. How should this be coded according to AIS 2025
guidelines?
A. Code as a single injury with bilateral modifier [CORRECT]
B. Code as two separate injuries in the thorax region
C. Code only the more severely affected side
D. Code as two separate injuries in different body regions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: AIS 2025 allows coding of bilateral injuries as a single code with laterality specified,
typically resulting in a higher severity score than a unilateral injury but not double-counting for
ISS purposes. The bilateral nature is captured in the code structure or modifiers. Coding as two
separate injuries (B) would violate the "one injury per region" rule for ISS. Option C loses
important clinical information. Option D is anatomically incorrect as both lungs are in the thorax
region.
Question 6
Which AIS severity score indicates a "serious" injury?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3 [CORRECT]
D. 4
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: AIS 3 = serious injury (e.g., simple skull fracture, cerebral concussion with loss of
consciousness <1 hour, rib fractures without flail, spleen laceration superficial). These injuries
are not immediately life-threatening but require hospitalization and surgical intervention may be
needed. Option A (1) = minor (superficial lacerations, simple contusions). Option B (2) =
moderate (minor skull fractures, non-depressed). Option D (4) = severe (life-threatening, requires
emergency intervention).
Question 7
The AIS dictionary is organized primarily by:
A. Alphabetical listing of injury descriptions
B. Anatomic body region and specific structure [CORRECT]
C. Severity level from 1-6
, D. Mechanism of injury (blunt vs. penetrating)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The AIS dictionary is organized anatomically by body region (head, face, neck,
thorax, abdomen, spine, upper extremity, lower extremity, external) and then by specific
anatomic structures within each region. This anatomic organization allows coders to locate
injuries based on anatomical knowledge. While severity is included in each code, it is not the
primary organizational principle. Mechanism of injury may modify coding but does not organize
the dictionary.
Question 8
A patient has a penetrating gunshot wound to the abdomen. How does mechanism affect AIS
coding?
A. Penetrating mechanism automatically increases severity by 1 level
B. Penetrating wounds are coded based on anatomic injury severity regardless of mechanism
[CORRECT]
C. All penetrating wounds are coded as AIS 5
D. Penetrating wounds cannot be coded using AIS
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AIS is an anatomic severity scale, not a mechanism-based scale. The severity is
determined by the actual anatomic injury sustained, whether from blunt or penetrating
mechanism. A superficial abdominal wall penetration may be AIS 1, while a gunshot causing
liver laceration is coded based on the liver injury severity. Mechanism is documented separately
but does not automatically modify the AIS severity. Options A, C, and D misrepresent the
anatomic nature of AIS.
Question 9
Which of the following is TRUE regarding AIS code updates from AIS 2015 to AIS 2025?
A. All codes remain identical between versions
B. Some injury descriptions and severities have been revised based on clinical outcomes data
[CORRECT]
C. The 7-digit code structure has been eliminated
D. Severity scores are now assigned by computer algorithm only
Correct Answer: B
