Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test

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Prepare for the PHTLS exam with questions, explanations, and study materials. Master trauma care principles and boost your confidence for certification!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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In trauma patients, which symptom may indicate a fractured pelvis?

Hypotension
Severe headache
Dizziness
Chest pain

The correct answer is: Hypotension

Hypotension is a critical symptom to consider in trauma patients, particularly in the context of a fractured pelvis. A pelvic fracture can lead to significant blood loss due to the vascular structures that are located within the pelvis. This hemorrhage can result in reduced blood volume and, consequently, hypotension. In trauma assessments, identifying hypotension is crucial as it can indicate shock or internal bleeding, requiring immediate intervention. While severe headache, dizziness, and chest pain can all be associated with various conditions, they are not specific indicators of a fractured pelvis. Severe headache may suggest a head injury, dizziness might be due to multiple causes including hypovolemia or other intracranial issues, and chest pain often relates to thoracic trauma or cardiac concerns. Hence, hypotension serves as a more direct and critical indicator of the potential complications stemming from a pelvic fracture.