First Aid Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A football player is tackled and his knee bends inward. He feels a 'pop' and cannot bear weight. Which structure is most likely injured?
- Achilles tendon
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) or ACL (Correct answer)
- Patellar tendon
- Lateral meniscus only
Correct answer: Medial collateral ligament (MCL) or ACL
A valgus (inward) force with a pop and inability to bear weight classically suggests MCL or ACL injury.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT a sign of a fracture?
- Crepitus (grating sensation)
- Deformity or angulation
- Skin flushed and hot to touch without injury mechanism (Correct answer)
- Loss of normal function
Correct answer: Skin flushed and hot to touch without injury mechanism
Hot, flushed skin without trauma is not a fracture sign and may suggest infection or inflammation unrelated to fracture.
Question 3: After applying a splint to an arm fracture, you notice the fingers become blue and cold. You should:
- Apply more padding over the splint
- Loosen or remove the splint immediately (Correct answer)
- Elevate the arm higher
- Apply a warm compress
Correct answer: Loosen or remove the splint immediately
Blue, cold fingers after splinting indicate the splint is too tight and is cutting off circulation; it must be loosened immediately.
Question 4: A victim is found with a bone protruding from a wound. The correct first aid is to:
- Push the bone back into place and bandage
- Cover with a moist, sterile dressing without pressing on the bone (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet above the wound immediately
- Remove any loose bone fragments before bandaging
Correct answer: Cover with a moist, sterile dressing without pressing on the bone
Protruding bone should be covered gently with a moist sterile dressing; never push it back or remove fragments.
Question 5: A muscle cramp (charley horse) in the calf can be relieved by:
- Applying ice and lying still
- Gently stretching the calf by dorsiflexing the foot (Correct answer)
- Wrapping the calf tightly with an elastic bandage
- Massaging the shin instead of the calf
Correct answer: Gently stretching the calf by dorsiflexing the foot
Dorsiflexing the foot (pulling toes upward) stretches the calf muscle and helps relieve the spasm.
Question 6: Which joint is most frequently dislocated in the body?
- Hip
- Knee
- Shoulder (glenohumeral) (Correct answer)
- Ankle
Correct answer: Shoulder (glenohumeral)
The shoulder is the most commonly dislocated joint because its shallow socket allows wide range of motion but provides less stability.
Question 7: The 'E' in RICE stands for Elevation. The injured limb should be elevated:
- Below the level of the heart
- At the same level as the heart
- Above the level of the heart (Correct answer)
- As high as physically possible regardless of comfort
Correct answer: Above the level of the heart
Elevating the injured limb above heart level uses gravity to reduce swelling by promoting fluid drainage.
First Aid Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries 4
A football player is tackled and his knee bends inward.
He feels a 'pop' and cannot bear weight.
Which structure is most likely injured?