1|Page
ATLS POST TEST 2026|COMPLETE
EXAM SET WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck from behind. In
the ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart rate is 80 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that
her legs feel "funny and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show
a fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral bodies. -
correct-answer - D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray
studies
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Immediate chest tube insertion is indicated for which of the following conditions?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumomediastinum
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Diaphragmatic rupture
E. Subcutaneous emphysema - correct-answer - C. Massive hemothorax
Cardiac tamponade after trauma:
A. Is seldom life-threating
B. Can be excluded by an upright, AP chest x-ray
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
D. Causes a fall in systolic pressure of > 15mmHg with expiration
E. Most commonly occurs after blunt injury to the anterior chest wall - correct-
answer - C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
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A 22-year-old man is brought to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle into a
telephone pole. He is unconscious and in profound shock. He has no open wounds
or obvious fractures. The cause of his shock is MOST LIKELY caused by:
A. A subdural hematoma
B. An epidural hematoma
C. A transected lumbar spinal cord
D. A basilar skull fracture
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen - correct-answer - E. Hemorrhage into
the chest or abdomen
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh-isoimmunization in the
pregnant trauma patient?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. Minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage produce it
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
D. This is not a problem in the traumatized Rh-positive pregnant patient
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E. Initiation of Rh-immunoglobulin therapy does not require proof of
fetomaternal hemorrhage - correct-answer - C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test
excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
All of the following signs on the chest x-ray of a blunt injury victim may suggest
aortic rupture EXCEPT:
A. Mediastinal emphysema
B. Presence of a "pleural cap"
C. Obliteration of the aortic knob
D. Deviation of the trachea to the right
E. Depression of the left mainstem bronchus - correct-answer - A. Mediastinal
emphysema
Early central venous pressure monitoring during fluid resusciation in the ED has
the greatest utility in a:
A. Patient with a splenic laceration
B. Patient with a inhalation injury
ATLS POST TEST 2026|COMPLETE
EXAM SET WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck from behind. In
the ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart rate is 80 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that
her legs feel "funny and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show
a fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral bodies. -
correct-answer - D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray
studies
,2|Page
Immediate chest tube insertion is indicated for which of the following conditions?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumomediastinum
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Diaphragmatic rupture
E. Subcutaneous emphysema - correct-answer - C. Massive hemothorax
Cardiac tamponade after trauma:
A. Is seldom life-threating
B. Can be excluded by an upright, AP chest x-ray
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
D. Causes a fall in systolic pressure of > 15mmHg with expiration
E. Most commonly occurs after blunt injury to the anterior chest wall - correct-
answer - C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
,3|Page
A 22-year-old man is brought to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle into a
telephone pole. He is unconscious and in profound shock. He has no open wounds
or obvious fractures. The cause of his shock is MOST LIKELY caused by:
A. A subdural hematoma
B. An epidural hematoma
C. A transected lumbar spinal cord
D. A basilar skull fracture
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen - correct-answer - E. Hemorrhage into
the chest or abdomen
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh-isoimmunization in the
pregnant trauma patient?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. Minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage produce it
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
D. This is not a problem in the traumatized Rh-positive pregnant patient
, 4|Page
E. Initiation of Rh-immunoglobulin therapy does not require proof of
fetomaternal hemorrhage - correct-answer - C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test
excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
All of the following signs on the chest x-ray of a blunt injury victim may suggest
aortic rupture EXCEPT:
A. Mediastinal emphysema
B. Presence of a "pleural cap"
C. Obliteration of the aortic knob
D. Deviation of the trachea to the right
E. Depression of the left mainstem bronchus - correct-answer - A. Mediastinal
emphysema
Early central venous pressure monitoring during fluid resusciation in the ED has
the greatest utility in a:
A. Patient with a splenic laceration
B. Patient with a inhalation injury
