1|Page
CAISS CERTIFICATION EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
[2025/26]
TOPICS IN THIS STUDY GUIDE ALIGN WITH ACTUAL EXAM
What membrane lines the viscera? - answer>>visceral pleura
What two injuries must occur for a skull fracture to be termed "open?"
- answer>>1) torn dura
2) compound fracture
PTX/HTX fills what cavity in the chest? - answer>>intrapleural space
what 2 structures are included in both the neck and thorax chapters of
the dictionary? - answer>>esophagus & trachea
Is the rib cage considered a single anatomic structure for coding purposes? -
answer>>YES
what structure are ingestion injuries coded to? - answer>>esophagus
Lung lacerations must be substantiated by , , or .-
answer>>CT, operative report, autopsy
If you have unilateral flail chest with rib fxs to the opposite side are the injuries coded
combined or separate? - answer>>separate
,2|Page
Unilateral rib fxs with same sided unilateral flail chest are coded combined or
separate? - answer>>combined
Three or more ribs fractured in two or more places defines what injury?
- answer>>flail chest
Do multiple rib fxs NFS have a specific AIS code? - answer>>YES
A costal cartilage tear or fracture is coded as what type of injury? - answer>>rib fx
What should be used when a specific artery or vein is not named in the AIS
description but is injured? - answer>>other named
"Incomplete transection" vessel injuries are coded as what in AIS? -
answer>>incomplete circumferential involvement
What two ISS body regions may the aorta and vena cava be coded under
depending on the location of their injury? - answer>>chest
abdomen
,3|Page
Are "clinical rib fxs" coded? - answer>>NO (must have radiology/OR/autopsy)
Can lung contusions be coded on the bases of pulmonary dysfunction alone? -
answer>>NO (must be verified by radiograph, autopsy, or collaboration of the
physician & have hx of chest trauma)
(T/F) Rib fractures with underlying injuries such as a lung contusion or laceration
should be coded as one single injury combined. - answer>>FALSE
Injestion injuries in the chest are coded to which organ? - answer>>esophagus
(T/F) Air embolus and tamponade are codeable sequela in the chest ISS region. -
answer>>TRUE
"Blast" and inhalation injuries in the chest are coded to which organ? - answer>>lungs
The lumbar spinal cord and lumbar vertebrae are assigned to which ISS body region?
- answer>>abdomen & pelvic contents
, 4|Page
Avulsion, complex, rupture, tissue loss, and deep are all synonyms for what
severity of organ injury? - answer>>massive
What type of organ injury involves the ripping away of an organ from its vascular
attachment? - answer>>avulsion
"No perforation" is defined as a thickness laceration (such as
serosal tear) - answer>>partial
Is a perforation considered a complete transection? - answer>>NO
"perforation" is defined as a thickness laceration. -
answer>>full
When two parts of a structure are completely separated from each other it is
known as what type of injury? - answer>>transection
T/F OIS grades should not be used as a substitute for clinical descriptions of
injuries. - answer>>True
CAISS CERTIFICATION EXAM LATEST
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
[2025/26]
TOPICS IN THIS STUDY GUIDE ALIGN WITH ACTUAL EXAM
What membrane lines the viscera? - answer>>visceral pleura
What two injuries must occur for a skull fracture to be termed "open?"
- answer>>1) torn dura
2) compound fracture
PTX/HTX fills what cavity in the chest? - answer>>intrapleural space
what 2 structures are included in both the neck and thorax chapters of
the dictionary? - answer>>esophagus & trachea
Is the rib cage considered a single anatomic structure for coding purposes? -
answer>>YES
what structure are ingestion injuries coded to? - answer>>esophagus
Lung lacerations must be substantiated by , , or .-
answer>>CT, operative report, autopsy
If you have unilateral flail chest with rib fxs to the opposite side are the injuries coded
combined or separate? - answer>>separate
,2|Page
Unilateral rib fxs with same sided unilateral flail chest are coded combined or
separate? - answer>>combined
Three or more ribs fractured in two or more places defines what injury?
- answer>>flail chest
Do multiple rib fxs NFS have a specific AIS code? - answer>>YES
A costal cartilage tear or fracture is coded as what type of injury? - answer>>rib fx
What should be used when a specific artery or vein is not named in the AIS
description but is injured? - answer>>other named
"Incomplete transection" vessel injuries are coded as what in AIS? -
answer>>incomplete circumferential involvement
What two ISS body regions may the aorta and vena cava be coded under
depending on the location of their injury? - answer>>chest
abdomen
,3|Page
Are "clinical rib fxs" coded? - answer>>NO (must have radiology/OR/autopsy)
Can lung contusions be coded on the bases of pulmonary dysfunction alone? -
answer>>NO (must be verified by radiograph, autopsy, or collaboration of the
physician & have hx of chest trauma)
(T/F) Rib fractures with underlying injuries such as a lung contusion or laceration
should be coded as one single injury combined. - answer>>FALSE
Injestion injuries in the chest are coded to which organ? - answer>>esophagus
(T/F) Air embolus and tamponade are codeable sequela in the chest ISS region. -
answer>>TRUE
"Blast" and inhalation injuries in the chest are coded to which organ? - answer>>lungs
The lumbar spinal cord and lumbar vertebrae are assigned to which ISS body region?
- answer>>abdomen & pelvic contents
, 4|Page
Avulsion, complex, rupture, tissue loss, and deep are all synonyms for what
severity of organ injury? - answer>>massive
What type of organ injury involves the ripping away of an organ from its vascular
attachment? - answer>>avulsion
"No perforation" is defined as a thickness laceration (such as
serosal tear) - answer>>partial
Is a perforation considered a complete transection? - answer>>NO
"perforation" is defined as a thickness laceration. -
answer>>full
When two parts of a structure are completely separated from each other it is
known as what type of injury? - answer>>transection
T/F OIS grades should not be used as a substitute for clinical descriptions of
injuries. - answer>>True
