CAISS EXTREMITIES AND PELVIC GIRDLE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS 2024-2025
How do you code GSW with a missile embedded in the bone? - ANSWER: As an
Open Fx (clarification paper)
How do you code bone fractures from a GSW? - ANSWER Open FX
How does one code bone contusions? - ANSWER They're not codeable.
What anatomical landmarks can be used to guide upper extremity amputation? -
ANSWER 1: Between shoulder and hand. NFS [Does not apply to hands, thumbs,
and fingers].
2. At the shoulders.
3. at or above the elbow, but below the shoulder.
4. behind the elbow, at or above the wrist.
5. Hand - Partial or Complete
6. Thumb
7. Other fingers: single or many.
When is it appropriate to code compartment syndrome in the upper extremity? -
ANSWER Compartment syndrome caused by damage to soft tissue without FX,
destruction of bone or other structures (i.e., you can use this category only if no
particular injuries to the upper extremity are documented).
What does crush injury entail? - ANSWER Massive damage of the skeletal
vascular, neurological, and tissue systems.
,Degloving injuries of the upper extremities are ascribed to - ANSWER External.
What are the considerations while awarding PENETRATING injury codes? -
ANSWER Use this for piercing injuries that do not include bone or internal
structures. Specific codes exist for tissue loss > 25 cm² and blood loss > 20% for
penetrating injuries at the shoulder, elbow, or below the shoulder.
Describe a significant laceration on the upper extremity. It is longer than 10 cm on
the hand or more than 20 cm on the entire extremity and into the subcutaneous
tissue.
What is the distinction between a mild and a major avulsion of the upper
extremity? - ANSWER A minor or superficial wound measures less than 25 cm² on
the hand or less than 100 cm² on the entire extremities. A significant avulsion
involves tissue loss of more than 25 cm on the hand or 100 cm² on the entire
extremity.
How should a vascular injury in the upper extremities be coded? - ANSWER Do
not classify them separately when they are directly engaged in crush type injuries
or amputation, unless the vascular injury is more severe than the crush or
amputation injury. Branches of vessels are not coded unless they are named vessels
or classified under a specific vessel descriptor.
True or False. A vascular injury in upper extremity that is not further characterized
has a severity of 9"". - The answer is true.
Name vessels explicitly listed in the upper extremities chapter - ANSWER 1.
Axillary artery and vein.
2. Brachial artery and brachial vein
3. Other named arteries, such as radial and ulnar
4. Other designated veins are cephalic and basilic.
, True or False. Lacerations, perforations, and punctures are all coded the same way
in the vessel section.
Describe a slight laceration of a vessel. Blood loss is superficial and partial, with a
volume loss of less than 20%.
True or untrue in the vascular part of the upper extremities chapter, prominent
injury examples are: rupture, transsection, or segmental loss. - The answer is true.
One example of a large brachial artery damage is a laceration with blood loss
greater than _____ percent. - ANSWER 20%
How would you code a diagnosis of nerve palsy or neurapraxia? - ANSWER Code
as contusion to the specific nerve.
What are the names of the nerves in the upper extremities section? - ANSWER
Digital, medial, radial, and ulnar
Name damage to the joint capsule: rupture, tear, avulsion.
True or false: A muscular contusion is categorized the same as a muscle strain. -
The answer is true.
AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS 2024-2025
How do you code GSW with a missile embedded in the bone? - ANSWER: As an
Open Fx (clarification paper)
How do you code bone fractures from a GSW? - ANSWER Open FX
How does one code bone contusions? - ANSWER They're not codeable.
What anatomical landmarks can be used to guide upper extremity amputation? -
ANSWER 1: Between shoulder and hand. NFS [Does not apply to hands, thumbs,
and fingers].
2. At the shoulders.
3. at or above the elbow, but below the shoulder.
4. behind the elbow, at or above the wrist.
5. Hand - Partial or Complete
6. Thumb
7. Other fingers: single or many.
When is it appropriate to code compartment syndrome in the upper extremity? -
ANSWER Compartment syndrome caused by damage to soft tissue without FX,
destruction of bone or other structures (i.e., you can use this category only if no
particular injuries to the upper extremity are documented).
What does crush injury entail? - ANSWER Massive damage of the skeletal
vascular, neurological, and tissue systems.
,Degloving injuries of the upper extremities are ascribed to - ANSWER External.
What are the considerations while awarding PENETRATING injury codes? -
ANSWER Use this for piercing injuries that do not include bone or internal
structures. Specific codes exist for tissue loss > 25 cm² and blood loss > 20% for
penetrating injuries at the shoulder, elbow, or below the shoulder.
Describe a significant laceration on the upper extremity. It is longer than 10 cm on
the hand or more than 20 cm on the entire extremity and into the subcutaneous
tissue.
What is the distinction between a mild and a major avulsion of the upper
extremity? - ANSWER A minor or superficial wound measures less than 25 cm² on
the hand or less than 100 cm² on the entire extremities. A significant avulsion
involves tissue loss of more than 25 cm on the hand or 100 cm² on the entire
extremity.
How should a vascular injury in the upper extremities be coded? - ANSWER Do
not classify them separately when they are directly engaged in crush type injuries
or amputation, unless the vascular injury is more severe than the crush or
amputation injury. Branches of vessels are not coded unless they are named vessels
or classified under a specific vessel descriptor.
True or False. A vascular injury in upper extremity that is not further characterized
has a severity of 9"". - The answer is true.
Name vessels explicitly listed in the upper extremities chapter - ANSWER 1.
Axillary artery and vein.
2. Brachial artery and brachial vein
3. Other named arteries, such as radial and ulnar
4. Other designated veins are cephalic and basilic.
, True or False. Lacerations, perforations, and punctures are all coded the same way
in the vessel section.
Describe a slight laceration of a vessel. Blood loss is superficial and partial, with a
volume loss of less than 20%.
True or untrue in the vascular part of the upper extremities chapter, prominent
injury examples are: rupture, transsection, or segmental loss. - The answer is true.
One example of a large brachial artery damage is a laceration with blood loss
greater than _____ percent. - ANSWER 20%
How would you code a diagnosis of nerve palsy or neurapraxia? - ANSWER Code
as contusion to the specific nerve.
What are the names of the nerves in the upper extremities section? - ANSWER
Digital, medial, radial, and ulnar
Name damage to the joint capsule: rupture, tear, avulsion.
True or false: A muscular contusion is categorized the same as a muscle strain. -
The answer is true.
