PHTLS 10th Edition Post-Test 2026/2027 –
250 Practice Questions with Verified
Answers (Trauma Life Support Final
Assessment)
1. You are dispatched to a motor vehicle collision on the interstate. Dispatch
reports a single vehicle that left the roadway and struck a tree head-on at
highway speed. Upon arrival, you observe a midsize sedan with severe front-
end damage, the tree embedded in the engine compartment, and a deployed
airbag with white powder residue. The driver is seated, conscious, and
gripping their chest. Bystanders report the vehicle "spun around" before
impact. Based on the mechanism of injury, which injury pattern should you
anticipate as the highest priority?
A. Lumbar spine compression fracture from vertical loading
B. Bilateral femur fractures from dashboard intrusion
C. Traumatic aortic disruption from rapid deceleration
D. Isolated closed head injury from lateral impact
Answer: C. Traumatic aortic disruption from rapid deceleration
2. You respond to an explosion at an industrial facility. On scene, you
encounter multiple patients with varying presentations. Patient A is
unconscious with obvious traumatic amputation of both legs, bleeding
profusely. Patient B is ambulatory, complaining of hearing loss and ringing in
the ears, with superficial shrapnel wounds to the arms. Patient C is seated
against a wall, dyspneic, with chest burns and singed nasal hairs. Patient D is
,deceased with massive head trauma. Using the SALT triage system, what is
the correct categorization?
A. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Delayed; Patient C: Delayed; Patient D:
Deceased
B. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Minor; Patient C: Immediate; Patient D:
Deceased
C. Patient A: Expectant; Patient B: Minor; Patient C: Immediate; Patient D:
Deceased
D. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Delayed; Patient C: Delayed; Patient D:
Expectant
Answer: B. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Minor; Patient C: Immediate;
Patient D: Deceased
3. You are approaching a scene at night involving a motorcycle collision. The
rider is lying supine in the roadway, approximately 50 feet from the
motorcycle which shows significant damage. You observe a pool of dark
blood near the patient's head. Before patient contact, which action
represents the highest priority according to PHTLS scene safety principles?
A. Rapidly approach the patient to control the obvious head wound bleeding
B. Establish scene safety by positioning the ambulance to block traffic,
donning appropriate PPE, and assessing for environmental hazards
C. Immediately begin spinal motion restriction with manual stabilization
D. Call for air medical transport given the mechanism
Answer: B. Establish scene safety by positioning the ambulance to block
traffic, donning appropriate PPE, and assessing for environmental hazards
,4. A 35-year-old male is involved in a high-speed rollover collision. He is
found ambulatory on scene but complains of severe midline cervical spine
tenderness and paresthesia in both upper extremities. Which of the following
represents the most appropriate initial management?
A. Apply a rigid cervical collar and place the patient on a long backboard for
transport.
B. Perform a rapid trauma assessment and secure the patient to a vacuum
mattress with the head blocks.
C. Manually stabilize the head and neck in a neutral in-line position, then
apply a rigid cervical collar.
D. Have the patient self-extricate and sit on the ambulance stretcher for
comfort.
Answer: C. Manually stabilize the head and neck in a neutral in-line position,
then apply a rigid cervical collar.
5. A 28-year-old female is ejected from a vehicle during a collision. She is
found unresponsive with snoring respirations and a Glasgow Coma Scale
(GCS) of 6. Which of the following is the most immediate life-threatening
condition to address?
A. Suspected pelvic fracture
B. Airway obstruction due to loss of tongue tone
C. Closed femur fracture
D. Facial lacerations
Answer: B. Airway obstruction due to loss of tongue tone
6. A patient presents with a penetrating injury to the anterior chest at the
4th intercostal space, midclavicular line. The patient is hypotensive,
, tachycardic, and has distended neck veins. Which condition should be
suspected?
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Open pneumothorax
Answer: B. Cardiac tamponade
7. A 45-year-old male presents with a flail chest following a blunt trauma. He
is in severe respiratory distress with a respiratory rate of 32. Which
intervention is the priority?
A. Apply a bulky dressing over the flail segment.
B. Provide positive pressure ventilation.
C. Administer high-flow oxygen and monitor.
D. Place the patient in a prone position.
Answer: B. Provide positive pressure ventilation.
8. During the primary survey of a trauma patient, you note absent breath
sounds on the right side, tracheal deviation to the left, and distended neck
veins. What is the immediate intervention?
A. Needle decompression of the right chest.
B. Pericardiocentesis.
C. Chest tube insertion.
250 Practice Questions with Verified
Answers (Trauma Life Support Final
Assessment)
1. You are dispatched to a motor vehicle collision on the interstate. Dispatch
reports a single vehicle that left the roadway and struck a tree head-on at
highway speed. Upon arrival, you observe a midsize sedan with severe front-
end damage, the tree embedded in the engine compartment, and a deployed
airbag with white powder residue. The driver is seated, conscious, and
gripping their chest. Bystanders report the vehicle "spun around" before
impact. Based on the mechanism of injury, which injury pattern should you
anticipate as the highest priority?
A. Lumbar spine compression fracture from vertical loading
B. Bilateral femur fractures from dashboard intrusion
C. Traumatic aortic disruption from rapid deceleration
D. Isolated closed head injury from lateral impact
Answer: C. Traumatic aortic disruption from rapid deceleration
2. You respond to an explosion at an industrial facility. On scene, you
encounter multiple patients with varying presentations. Patient A is
unconscious with obvious traumatic amputation of both legs, bleeding
profusely. Patient B is ambulatory, complaining of hearing loss and ringing in
the ears, with superficial shrapnel wounds to the arms. Patient C is seated
against a wall, dyspneic, with chest burns and singed nasal hairs. Patient D is
,deceased with massive head trauma. Using the SALT triage system, what is
the correct categorization?
A. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Delayed; Patient C: Delayed; Patient D:
Deceased
B. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Minor; Patient C: Immediate; Patient D:
Deceased
C. Patient A: Expectant; Patient B: Minor; Patient C: Immediate; Patient D:
Deceased
D. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Delayed; Patient C: Delayed; Patient D:
Expectant
Answer: B. Patient A: Immediate; Patient B: Minor; Patient C: Immediate;
Patient D: Deceased
3. You are approaching a scene at night involving a motorcycle collision. The
rider is lying supine in the roadway, approximately 50 feet from the
motorcycle which shows significant damage. You observe a pool of dark
blood near the patient's head. Before patient contact, which action
represents the highest priority according to PHTLS scene safety principles?
A. Rapidly approach the patient to control the obvious head wound bleeding
B. Establish scene safety by positioning the ambulance to block traffic,
donning appropriate PPE, and assessing for environmental hazards
C. Immediately begin spinal motion restriction with manual stabilization
D. Call for air medical transport given the mechanism
Answer: B. Establish scene safety by positioning the ambulance to block
traffic, donning appropriate PPE, and assessing for environmental hazards
,4. A 35-year-old male is involved in a high-speed rollover collision. He is
found ambulatory on scene but complains of severe midline cervical spine
tenderness and paresthesia in both upper extremities. Which of the following
represents the most appropriate initial management?
A. Apply a rigid cervical collar and place the patient on a long backboard for
transport.
B. Perform a rapid trauma assessment and secure the patient to a vacuum
mattress with the head blocks.
C. Manually stabilize the head and neck in a neutral in-line position, then
apply a rigid cervical collar.
D. Have the patient self-extricate and sit on the ambulance stretcher for
comfort.
Answer: C. Manually stabilize the head and neck in a neutral in-line position,
then apply a rigid cervical collar.
5. A 28-year-old female is ejected from a vehicle during a collision. She is
found unresponsive with snoring respirations and a Glasgow Coma Scale
(GCS) of 6. Which of the following is the most immediate life-threatening
condition to address?
A. Suspected pelvic fracture
B. Airway obstruction due to loss of tongue tone
C. Closed femur fracture
D. Facial lacerations
Answer: B. Airway obstruction due to loss of tongue tone
6. A patient presents with a penetrating injury to the anterior chest at the
4th intercostal space, midclavicular line. The patient is hypotensive,
, tachycardic, and has distended neck veins. Which condition should be
suspected?
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Open pneumothorax
Answer: B. Cardiac tamponade
7. A 45-year-old male presents with a flail chest following a blunt trauma. He
is in severe respiratory distress with a respiratory rate of 32. Which
intervention is the priority?
A. Apply a bulky dressing over the flail segment.
B. Provide positive pressure ventilation.
C. Administer high-flow oxygen and monitor.
D. Place the patient in a prone position.
Answer: B. Provide positive pressure ventilation.
8. During the primary survey of a trauma patient, you note absent breath
sounds on the right side, tracheal deviation to the left, and distended neck
veins. What is the immediate intervention?
A. Needle decompression of the right chest.
B. Pericardiocentesis.
C. Chest tube insertion.
