NSG6001 MUSCULOSKELETAL/IMMUNE DISORDER EXAM VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

NSG6001 MUSCULOSKELETAL/IMMUNE DISORDER
EXAM VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which treatments may be used to manage bone pain in patients with bone
tumors?
Select all that apply.
a. Bisphosphonates
b. Exercise
c. External beam radiation
d. Massage
e. Vertebralplasty - ANSWER-ANS: A, B, C, E
Bisphosphonates can decrease pain by preventing growth and development of
existing and new bone lesions. Exercise is useful to maintain function and
reduce pain. External beam radiation is useful in the majority of patients.
Vertebralplasty involves injecting bone cement to stabilize bone. Massage is not
recommended.
2. A patient reports persistent lower back pain and constipation. A digital rectal
examination reveals a mass at the sacrum. What will the primary care provider
do to manage this patient?
a. Order spinal radiographs in 3 months
b. Perform an MRI of the sacrum
c. Refer the patient to an oncologist
d. Schedule the patient for a biopsy - ANSWER-C.
Patients with chordoma, which is a type of sarcoma with a predilection for the
sacrum will have these symptoms and a palpable mass coming out of the
sacrum. A referral to an oncologist is necessary. These tumors have a
significant risk for malignancy, so waiting 3 months is not an option. The
oncologist will order a CT and body scan and possibly biopsy or surgery
3. A provider discovers a bone tumor as an incidental finding on a radiograph in
a patient who has sustained an injury to a ligament. The patient has not had pain
prior to the injury. What will the provider do next?
a. Consult with an orthopedic specialist
b. Order a chest CT and full body scan
c. Refer the patient to for a bone biopsy
d. Repeat the radiograph in 6 to 12 months - ANSWER-ANS: D
Latent bone tumors are usually discovered as incidental findings during
evaluation for musculoskeletal injury. If the injury is the source of pain, the
radiograph may be repeated in 6 to 12 months to determine whether it is
increasing in size. Consultation with an orthopedic specialist, referral for a
biopsy, and further testing with chest CT or full body scanning are done if there
is suspicion of an active tumor
4. A patient with shoulder pain is seen by an orthopedic specialist who notes
erythema, warmth, and fluctuance of the shoulder joint. What is the next step in
treatment for this patient?
a. Admit to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics
b. Inject lidocaine into the joint and reassess in 5 to 10 minutes
c. Order a plain radiograph of the shoulder to identify possible fracture
d. Perform a shoulder ultrasound to further evaluate the cause - ANSWER-ANS:
A
Immediate referral is indicated for patients who present with symptoms
consistent with septic bursitis, such as with the symptoms above. Lidocaine is
injected into a painful joint to evaluate for improvement to determine whether
bursitis or tendonitis is present as a result of impingement. This exam is not
consistent with fracture. An ultrasound is not indicated.REF: Shoulder
Bursitis/Management