Orthotics CPM Exam Study Guide 2024 with Complete
Solutions
A patient exhibits hallux rigidus, at which part of stance phase will the patient have the
most discomfort? - Late stance phase
A patient's KAFO has free motion knee, but the mechanical joint is 1" distal to the
anatomical joint. In flexion, the resulting pressure will be? - proximal posterior thigh and
distal anterior thigh (KAFO migrates proximally)
A polio patient has a flail ankle, good knee muscles, good hip muscles, full ROM at the
knee with 25 degrees of recurvatum. Knee buckles when tired. What orthosis do you
recommend? Describe the biomechanical principles. - Lightweight KAFO (offset or drop
lock knee joint) with a solid plastic AFO section with rocker bottom shoe or double
adjustable ankle joint
A single gait cycle defined as? - Heel strike on one side to heel strike on the ipsilateral
side
A thumb post should hold the thumb in what position? - In opposition to index and 2nd
finger for three point prehension
A UCBL is used for more control of what part of the foot? - hind foot (calcaneus), sub-
talar joint
About 80% of children affected with plagiocephaly show some sort of torticollis, true or
false? - true
An inflamed pin-site, pain at pin-site, noise or movement are indications of what? -
Loose pin
At the neural segmental level of the spinal cord lesion there will always be a return
reflex action, true or false? - false
At what spinal level would you consider using a CTLSO rather than a TLSO for
scoliosis? - T6-T8
At which joint and in which plane does the motion of inversion and eversion occur? -
Subtalar (or talocalcaneonavicular) joint, coronal plane
Can you put a halo ring on a child? - Yes, less torque more pins
Decrease the alignment at the ankle, knee and hips for crouch gait pattern? - flexed
hips, flexed knees, dorsiflexed ankles
, Describe Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease - inherited progressive neuromuscular atrophy
characterized by progressive weakness of the distal muscles of arms and feet usually
develops in childhood. Typical presentation is a lack of muscle, a high arch and
hammertoes
Describe chondromalacia - Otherwise known as "runner's knee" it is the
softening/deterioration of the articular cartilage beneath the patella, usually involving the
patella-femoral joint
Describe Erb's palsy and make an orthotic recommendation - Avulsion of the C5-C6
nerve roots resulting in a flail arm (lacking mobility and sensation) (finger flexors and
extensors intact) - utilize a gunslinger orthosis to position hand and support shoulder
Describe Guillain Barre and its effects on the patient? - A condition in which the immune
system attacks the nerves. Symptoms begin with tingling and weakness in the
extremities and can eventually lead to paralysis
Describe the etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome. - Compression of the median nerve in
the carpal canal caused by edema, synovitis and fibrosis of the tendon sheath
Describe the muscle picture for a radial nerve injury. - Lose extensors of wrist and
elbow, supinator and thumb abduction
Describe the muscle picture for an ulnar nerve injury. - Lose most of intrinsic
musculature of the hand - "claw hand"
Describe the muscle picture for median nerve injury. - Lose lumbricals 1 & 2, opponens
pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis and palmar sensation - "ape hand"
Do you treat functional and structural scoliosis the same? - No, functional curves are fit
with corrective devices, structural curves are usually treated with an accommodative
device
During anterior pin placement, should the patient have his/her eyes closed or open? -
Closed
During which phase of gait does the ankle achieve the greatest amount of dorsiflexion in
a healthy individual which normal ROM and muscle functionality? - terminal stance
Evaluation of a patient with a gunshot wound to the hip reveals weak hip flexors. What
peripheral nerve is injured? - femoral nerve
For stable compression fractures of the cervical spine the head should be positioned in
flexion or extension? - Extension