Orthopaedics & Trauma

20 learning units • 100 chapter sections • 200 explained questions. Assess musculoskeletal disease and injury, recognise limb-threatening emergencies and plan treatment, rehabilitation and prevention.

Original RAHBAR study material for the Year 5 learning pathway. Clinical cases support supervised undergraduate learning. Treatment choices, doses and procedures must follow current local protocols and the responsible clinical team. References & further reading ↓

MODULE 06 / 20

Elbow, Forearm, Wrist & Hand Trauma

Identify associated injuries and protect hand function through careful assessment and follow-up.

Choose an answer and check it immediately. Change your choice to try again. This is a self-study exercise; results are not saved.

Question 01. Why assess adjacent joints in a forearm fracture? A. A fracture-dislocation can coexistB. Joint injury is impossibleC. It replaces shaft imagingD. Only swelling matters

Question 02. Which nerve symptoms matter in a swollen distal-radius injury? A. Isolated loss of smellB. Visual floaters aloneC. Progressive median nerve symptomsD. Facial weakness alone

Question 03. What should progressive numbness after wrist immobilisation trigger? A. Urgent reassessmentB. Routine review several months laterC. A tighter dressingD. Reassurance based only on the original film

Question 04. Does a normal initial radiograph exclude a scaphoid fracture? A. YesB. Only if swelling is absentC. NoD. Only in the dominant hand

Question 05. What can be appropriate in suspected occult scaphoid injury? A. Early MRI through the local pathway with protection and reviewB. Unrestricted activity without adviceC. No follow-up after a negative filmD. Repeated forced wrist extension

Question 06. Why is a missed scaphoid fracture important? A. It always heals immediatelyB. It never affects functionC. It cannot need treatmentD. It can lead to non-union and later degeneration

Question 07. What should be checked in a hand laceration? A. Only wound lengthB. Tendons, sensation and perfusionC. Only the dressing sizeD. Only skin colour away from the wound

Question 08. Why is a knuckle bite concerning? A. It is always sterileB. It excludes deep injuryC. It only causes bruisingD. It may involve a joint or tendon and become infected

Question 09. Which finger deformity can markedly impair hand function? A. Rotational malalignmentB. A resolved superficial bruiseC. Mild temporary colour change aloneD. A normal nail ridge

Question 10. What is the role of hand therapy after selected injuries? A. Replace treatment of an open jointB. Ignore tendon repair precautionsC. Restore function within tissue-healing restrictionsD. Guarantee immediate full strength

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References & Further Reading

Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.

Reference review: 28 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.