ONC Sports Injuries/Orthopaedic
Trauma Practice Exam-Graded A
A 10-year-old child is diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans. The child's parents are
advised to modify the child's activity. The nurse should provide instruction on which of
the following additional strategies for conservative management?
a. Bracing
b. Non-weight-bearing
c. Knee manipulation
d. Heat therapy - correct Answer-Key: a
Rationale: Conservative management includes modified activity coupled with
immobilization via casting, bracing, or knee splinting. Partial weight-bearing should be
maintained with the knee in slight flexion during ambulation.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 583
A 12-year-old boy playing Pee Wee football is tackled and sustains a fracture to the left
clavicle. The nurse should teach the patient and his parents about use of which of the
following interventions as part of non-surgical treatment for this injury?
a. Padded sling
b. Soft abduction immobilizer
c. Sandbag between scapulae
d. Cervical collar - correct Answer-Key: a
Rationale: For a child, non-surgical, conservative treatment includes application of a
sling. A soft immobilizer may be used for an adult with this injury. A sandbag is used for
adult injuries of the sternoclavicular joint. A cervical collar is not indicated for this injury.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 403, Table 15.9
A 29-year-old female is diagnosed with DeQuervain's tenosynovitis. The patient asks
the nurse how this condition develops. After reviewing the patient's personal and
medical history, the nurse should suspect the injury is MOST likely related to
a. frozen shoulder after her surgery.
b. a recent ankle sprain.
c. prolonged marathon training.
d. repetitive lifting of her infant. - correct Answer-Key: d
Rationale: DeQuervain's is a painful tenosynovitis of the wrist. It is often called "mother's
thumb" due to repetitive lifting and carrying of an infant.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 540
A 32-year-old male patient experienced traumatic amputation below the right knee in a
motor vehicle crash. During the patient's recovery, the nurse should encourage him to
stop smoking and limit coffee intake because nicotine and caffeine
, a. cause vasoconstriction and delay healing.
b. cause vasodilation and increase bleeding.
c. decrease blood pressure and increase fall risk.
d. decrease balance and reduce muscle tone. - correct Answer-Key: a
Rationale: Both nicotine and caffeine cause vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood
vessels) that could delay healing and increase risk for infection.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 413
A 4-year-old child is diagnosed with a pathologic tibial fracture. Based on the child's
health history, the nurse should recognize the fracture is MOST likely due to osteopenia
associated with which of the following chronic medical conditions?
a. Diabetes mellitus
b. Cerebral palsy
c. Juvenile arthritis
d. Myelomeningocele - correct Answer-Key: b
Rationale: Pathologic fractures often occur through osteopenic bone in children with
neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, osteogenesis imperfecta,
and dysplasia.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 308
A 48-year-old athlete sustains a ruptured Achilles tendon during triathlon training. In
discussing the personal and medical history with the patient, the nurse should recognize
which of the following as a risk factor for this injury?
a. Long distance swimming exercises
b. Ongoing treatment for gout
c. Attending a weekly spinning class
d. Antihistamine use for seasonal allergies - correct Answer-Key: b
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 591
Rationale: Risk factors associated with Achilles tendon rupture include prior history of
Achilles tendonitis, previous local cortisone injections, systemic inflammatory arthritis
(gout or rheumatoid arthritis), and use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
A basketball player sprains her right ankle in landing after a rebound. The nurse assists
in the physical examination of the patient. The nurse should recognize which of the
following maneuvers will be used to assess ligament stability?
a. Lachman test
b. Anterior drawer test
c. Abduction stress test
d. Clunk test - correct Answer-Key: b
Rationale: The anterior drawer test is performed to assess the stability of the anterior
talofibular ligament at the ankle. Lachman test is used to assess damage to the anterior
cruciate ligament. The abduction stress test evaluates the medial collateral ligament in
the knee. The posterior clunk test is used to assess shoulder instability.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 589
Trauma Practice Exam-Graded A
A 10-year-old child is diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans. The child's parents are
advised to modify the child's activity. The nurse should provide instruction on which of
the following additional strategies for conservative management?
a. Bracing
b. Non-weight-bearing
c. Knee manipulation
d. Heat therapy - correct Answer-Key: a
Rationale: Conservative management includes modified activity coupled with
immobilization via casting, bracing, or knee splinting. Partial weight-bearing should be
maintained with the knee in slight flexion during ambulation.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 583
A 12-year-old boy playing Pee Wee football is tackled and sustains a fracture to the left
clavicle. The nurse should teach the patient and his parents about use of which of the
following interventions as part of non-surgical treatment for this injury?
a. Padded sling
b. Soft abduction immobilizer
c. Sandbag between scapulae
d. Cervical collar - correct Answer-Key: a
Rationale: For a child, non-surgical, conservative treatment includes application of a
sling. A soft immobilizer may be used for an adult with this injury. A sandbag is used for
adult injuries of the sternoclavicular joint. A cervical collar is not indicated for this injury.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 403, Table 15.9
A 29-year-old female is diagnosed with DeQuervain's tenosynovitis. The patient asks
the nurse how this condition develops. After reviewing the patient's personal and
medical history, the nurse should suspect the injury is MOST likely related to
a. frozen shoulder after her surgery.
b. a recent ankle sprain.
c. prolonged marathon training.
d. repetitive lifting of her infant. - correct Answer-Key: d
Rationale: DeQuervain's is a painful tenosynovitis of the wrist. It is often called "mother's
thumb" due to repetitive lifting and carrying of an infant.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 540
A 32-year-old male patient experienced traumatic amputation below the right knee in a
motor vehicle crash. During the patient's recovery, the nurse should encourage him to
stop smoking and limit coffee intake because nicotine and caffeine
, a. cause vasoconstriction and delay healing.
b. cause vasodilation and increase bleeding.
c. decrease blood pressure and increase fall risk.
d. decrease balance and reduce muscle tone. - correct Answer-Key: a
Rationale: Both nicotine and caffeine cause vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood
vessels) that could delay healing and increase risk for infection.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 413
A 4-year-old child is diagnosed with a pathologic tibial fracture. Based on the child's
health history, the nurse should recognize the fracture is MOST likely due to osteopenia
associated with which of the following chronic medical conditions?
a. Diabetes mellitus
b. Cerebral palsy
c. Juvenile arthritis
d. Myelomeningocele - correct Answer-Key: b
Rationale: Pathologic fractures often occur through osteopenic bone in children with
neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, osteogenesis imperfecta,
and dysplasia.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 308
A 48-year-old athlete sustains a ruptured Achilles tendon during triathlon training. In
discussing the personal and medical history with the patient, the nurse should recognize
which of the following as a risk factor for this injury?
a. Long distance swimming exercises
b. Ongoing treatment for gout
c. Attending a weekly spinning class
d. Antihistamine use for seasonal allergies - correct Answer-Key: b
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 591
Rationale: Risk factors associated with Achilles tendon rupture include prior history of
Achilles tendonitis, previous local cortisone injections, systemic inflammatory arthritis
(gout or rheumatoid arthritis), and use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
A basketball player sprains her right ankle in landing after a rebound. The nurse assists
in the physical examination of the patient. The nurse should recognize which of the
following maneuvers will be used to assess ligament stability?
a. Lachman test
b. Anterior drawer test
c. Abduction stress test
d. Clunk test - correct Answer-Key: b
Rationale: The anterior drawer test is performed to assess the stability of the anterior
talofibular ligament at the ankle. Lachman test is used to assess damage to the anterior
cruciate ligament. The abduction stress test evaluates the medial collateral ligament in
the knee. The posterior clunk test is used to assess shoulder instability.
Reference: Core Curriculum for Orthopaedic Nursing (7th ed.), 2013, p. 589
