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Integumentary Physical Therapy Flashcards

7 cards from real NPTE-PTA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Integumentary Physical Therapy flashcards as text

  1. Using the Rule of Nines, what percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) does one entire upper extremity represent in an adult?

    Answer: 9%

    In the adult Rule of Nines, each upper extremity (including the arm, forearm, and hand) represents 9% of TBSA, making both upper extremities together 18%.

  2. A patient presents with a burn wound that is blistered, moist, red, and extremely painful to touch. This burn MOST accurately represents:

    Answer: Superficial partial-thickness (second-degree) burn

    Superficial partial-thickness burns involve the epidermis and superficial dermis, presenting with blistering, a moist red wound bed, and intense pain because nerve endings remain intact.

  3. During the ACUTE phase of burn rehabilitation, a PTA's HIGHEST priority intervention to prevent contracture is:

    Answer: Anti-deformity positioning and splinting

    Anti-deformity positioning and splinting is the priority in the acute phase because wounds are not yet healed; it prevents contracture development before scar maturation interventions are appropriate.

  4. Which type of skin graft uses donor skin harvested from a deceased human donor (cadaveric skin)?

    Answer: Allograft (homograft)

    An allograft (homograft) uses cadaveric human skin as a temporary biological dressing; it provides wound coverage until autografting with the patient's own skin can be performed.

  5. A patient with breast cancer-related lymphedema presents with pitting edema of the upper extremity that resolves significantly with overnight elevation. According to the International Society of Lymphology, this is classified as:

    Answer: Stage I – reversible lymphedema

    Stage I lymphedema is characterized by pitting edema that reduces substantially with elevation, distinguishing it from Stage II where fibrotic tissue changes make elevation less effective.

  6. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) for lymphedema includes all of the following components EXCEPT:

    Answer: Systemic diuretic therapy

    CDT consists of MLD, multilayer compression bandaging, decongestive exercises, and meticulous skin and nail care; diuretics are not part of CDT and are generally not recommended for lymphedema.

  7. When using a whirlpool for wound debridement on a patient with peripheral vascular disease, the MOST appropriate water temperature is:

    Answer: 92–96°F (33.3–35.6°C)

    Patients with peripheral vascular disease have compromised circulation and often reduced sensation, requiring a lower temperature (92–96°F) to minimize the risk of thermal injury.