OTC Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: A

Scaphoid view: PA wrist with ulnar deviation: Correct. Ulnar deviation lengthens the scaphoid and shows its waist, where most fractures occur.

Carpal tunnel view: axial with wrist extension: Incorrect. The carpal tunnel view shows the hook of the hamate and pisiform, not the scaphoid waist.

Lateral wrist view taken with radial deviation: Incorrect. Radial deviation shortens the scaphoid and can hide a fracture.

Oblique forearm view centered at the mid-shaft: Incorrect. A mid-forearm view does not center on the carpal bones.

Snuffbox tenderness = suspected scaphoid fracture: get a scaphoid (ulnar-deviated PA) view and splint in a thumb spica even if films are negative.

Answer: C

Ask the patient to oppose the thumb to the little finger and test palmar index tip sensation: Incorrect. Thumb opposition and palmar index sensation test the median nerve.

Ask the patient to spread the fingers apart and test sensation at the tip of the little finger: Incorrect. Finger abduction and little-finger sensation test the ulnar nerve.

Ask the patient to extend the wrist and fingers and test dorsal first web space sensation: Correct. The radial nerve, which runs in the spiral groove next to the humeral shaft, controls wrist and finger extension and supplies the dorsal first web space.

Ask the patient to flex the elbow against resistance and test sensation over the lateral forearm: Incorrect. Elbow flexion and lateral forearm sensation mainly test the musculocutaneous nerve.

Humeral shaft fractures risk radial nerve injury (wrist drop): check wrist/finger extension and dorsal first web space sensation before and after splinting.

Answer: B

Alcohol-based hand rub, since it kills all spore-forming bacteria: Incorrect. Alcohol does not reliably kill C. difficile spores.

Soap and water handwashing after removing gloves: Correct. Washing with soap and water physically removes C. difficile spores, which alcohol rubs do not kill.

No hand hygiene is needed if gloves were worn throughout: Incorrect. Hand hygiene is always required after glove removal; gloves can leak or contaminate hands.

A dry paper towel wipe, then alcohol rub on the gloves: Incorrect. Gloves are removed, not sanitized, and wiping does not remove spores.

Spore-forming organisms (C. difficile) and visibly soiled hands: wash with soap and water; otherwise alcohol rub is preferred.

Answer: C

Reassure him, since a palpable pulse rules out compartment syndrome: Incorrect. Pulses often stay present until late; pain out of proportion and pain with passive stretch are the early signs.

Elevate the leg high above heart level and recheck in two hours: Incorrect. Raising the limb well above the heart can lower perfusion pressure in compartment syndrome, and waiting is unsafe.

Notify the physician at once and prepare to split the cast to skin: Correct. These are early signs of compartment syndrome; the physician needs to know right away, and the cast and padding are released to skin as ordered.

Apply ice inside the cast and give the patient more pain medicine: Incorrect. This masks the key symptom and delays treatment of a limb-threatening emergency.

Compartment syndrome: pain out of proportion and pain on passive stretch come first; pulselessness is late. Notify immediately, release the cast to skin, keep the limb at heart level.

Answer: B

Cutting a small window over the swollen area: Incorrect. A window allows inspection but can let tissue bulge through, and barely lowers pressure around the limb.

Bivalving the cast and cutting the padding beneath: Correct. Splitting both sides and cutting the padding and stockinette to skin gives the largest pressure drop.

Trimming the edge at the fingers by half an inch: Incorrect. Trimming the edge does not relieve pressure around the limb.

Adding padding over the hand at the distal end: Incorrect. Extra padding adds pressure in a cast that is already tight.

For swelling in a cast: elevate, then bivalve and split the padding to skin when ordered; windows are for wound checks, not swelling.

Answer: C

3 mg: Incorrect. This treats 1% as 1 mg/mL; 1% means 1 g per 100 mL, or 10 mg/mL.

300 mg: Incorrect. This uses 100 mg/mL, ten times the real concentration.

30 mg: Correct. 1% = 10 mg/mL, so 3 mL × 10 mg/mL = 30 mg.

60 mg: Incorrect. 60 mg would be 3 mL of 2% lidocaine (20 mg/mL).

Percent solutions: X% = X g per 100 mL = 10X mg/mL (1% lidocaine = 10 mg/mL; 2% = 20 mg/mL).