ABPTS OCS EXAM |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
Sandra Frank is a 58 year old female who works as an actress at the local mall during the
holiday
season. She arrives at your office with symptoms of weakness in the L UE and numbness
along
the lateral forearm and hand. About 9 months ago she suffered from a gunshot wound to
the
neck after trying to escape from the scene of a burglary. Her wounds have healed but she
has
difficulty with ADLs secondary to weakness and lack of sensation. Upon examination, you
notice
loss of sensation in the arm and decreased strength and/or atrophy of the deltoid, biceps,
brachialis, pronator teres, infraspinatus muscles, supraspinatus, and supinator muscles.
Which
of the following sections of the brachial plexus is most likely injured?
A. Superior trunk
B. Lateral cord
C. Inferior trunk
D. Posterior cord
E. Middle trunk
CORRECT ANSWER
Superior trunk
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Question 2
Chris Costeau is a 31 year old marine biologist, who comes to your office complaining of
low
back pain which started 15 days ago. She states that the pain is worse on the left side of the
lumbar spine but also radiates into the posterior right thigh just proximal to her left knee.
Her
active lumbar flexion and right rotation are both limited and painful. Her hip internal
rotation
PROM is 37 degrees on the right side and 39 degrees on the left hip. Her hip external
rotation
PROM is 42 degrees bilat. Lumbar segments L4-L5 are painful and hypomobile upon P/A
central gliding. She scored a 18 on the work-subscale of the Fear Avoidance Behavior
Questionnaire and a 35 on the Oswestry Disability Index. Based on your examination,
what is
the best option for treatment?
A. Centralization/Directional preference exercise
B. Lumbar Traction and a generalized exercise program
C. High-velocity low-amplitude manipulative thrust tech
CORRECT ANSWER
C. High-velocity low-amplitude manipulative thrust technique and exercise; The patient
meets
the criteria for 5 out of 5 of the predictors for successful outcome with manipulation as
per Flynn
et al (Spine 2002). It is also rated as an "A" for strength of evidence and is recommended
in the
clinical practice guidelines for interventions to reduce pain and disability of the lumbar
spine in
patients with acute low back pain.
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
, Question 3
Nanny G is a 78 year old retiree who was attempting to swat a fly that landed on the wall
by
her bed. To reach the fly, she stood on top of her bed, however, she unfortunately fell off the
bed landing on her low back and left hip. She use ice and pain medication to help her make
it
through the night. She came to your office the next day before seeing her physician. She
demonstrates decreased ROM into lumbar extension, left rotation, and left side bending.
She
c/o severe pain and tenderness along the lumbar spine as well as pain in the left buttock.
She
also reports difficulty walking and functioning throughout the day. Based on the above, what
is
your next step?
A. Initiate gentle L/S flexion-based exercises to patient's pain tolerance
B. Initiate McKenzie exercises for the lumbar spine
C. Refer her out to her physician
D. Initiate with gentle mobilization for the lumbar spine, followed by exercise
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Refer her out to her physician; According to Henschke et al, this patient meets 3 of 4
clinical diagnostic predictors for spinal fracture. She should be referred out immediately
before
any treatment is initiated. Clinical predictors include age>70, female sex, traumatic
injury, and
prolonged use of corticosteroids
Question 4
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
Sandra Frank is a 58 year old female who works as an actress at the local mall during the
holiday
season. She arrives at your office with symptoms of weakness in the L UE and numbness
along
the lateral forearm and hand. About 9 months ago she suffered from a gunshot wound to
the
neck after trying to escape from the scene of a burglary. Her wounds have healed but she
has
difficulty with ADLs secondary to weakness and lack of sensation. Upon examination, you
notice
loss of sensation in the arm and decreased strength and/or atrophy of the deltoid, biceps,
brachialis, pronator teres, infraspinatus muscles, supraspinatus, and supinator muscles.
Which
of the following sections of the brachial plexus is most likely injured?
A. Superior trunk
B. Lateral cord
C. Inferior trunk
D. Posterior cord
E. Middle trunk
CORRECT ANSWER
Superior trunk
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,Question 2
Chris Costeau is a 31 year old marine biologist, who comes to your office complaining of
low
back pain which started 15 days ago. She states that the pain is worse on the left side of the
lumbar spine but also radiates into the posterior right thigh just proximal to her left knee.
Her
active lumbar flexion and right rotation are both limited and painful. Her hip internal
rotation
PROM is 37 degrees on the right side and 39 degrees on the left hip. Her hip external
rotation
PROM is 42 degrees bilat. Lumbar segments L4-L5 are painful and hypomobile upon P/A
central gliding. She scored a 18 on the work-subscale of the Fear Avoidance Behavior
Questionnaire and a 35 on the Oswestry Disability Index. Based on your examination,
what is
the best option for treatment?
A. Centralization/Directional preference exercise
B. Lumbar Traction and a generalized exercise program
C. High-velocity low-amplitude manipulative thrust tech
CORRECT ANSWER
C. High-velocity low-amplitude manipulative thrust technique and exercise; The patient
meets
the criteria for 5 out of 5 of the predictors for successful outcome with manipulation as
per Flynn
et al (Spine 2002). It is also rated as an "A" for strength of evidence and is recommended
in the
clinical practice guidelines for interventions to reduce pain and disability of the lumbar
spine in
patients with acute low back pain.
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
, Question 3
Nanny G is a 78 year old retiree who was attempting to swat a fly that landed on the wall
by
her bed. To reach the fly, she stood on top of her bed, however, she unfortunately fell off the
bed landing on her low back and left hip. She use ice and pain medication to help her make
it
through the night. She came to your office the next day before seeing her physician. She
demonstrates decreased ROM into lumbar extension, left rotation, and left side bending.
She
c/o severe pain and tenderness along the lumbar spine as well as pain in the left buttock.
She
also reports difficulty walking and functioning throughout the day. Based on the above, what
is
your next step?
A. Initiate gentle L/S flexion-based exercises to patient's pain tolerance
B. Initiate McKenzie exercises for the lumbar spine
C. Refer her out to her physician
D. Initiate with gentle mobilization for the lumbar spine, followed by exercise
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Refer her out to her physician; According to Henschke et al, this patient meets 3 of 4
clinical diagnostic predictors for spinal fracture. She should be referred out immediately
before
any treatment is initiated. Clinical predictors include age>70, female sex, traumatic
injury, and
prolonged use of corticosteroids
Question 4
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
