Free practice questions
OCS Cervical Spine Practice Questions
The cervical spine makes up about 12% of the OCS according to the ABPTS content outline. Try this free case based question. Pick an answer to see the full explanation, including why each wrong answer is wrong.
Free sample question
A 52 year old woman slipped and fell down 3 stairs, landing on her buttocks. She walked into the ER waiting room, her neck pain started an hour later, and she has no midline tenderness or paresthesia. Active rotation is 50° to each side. Based on the Canadian C Spine Rule, which decision is MOST appropriate?
Answer: C. A fall becomes a dangerous mechanism at 5 or more stairs or 3 feet, so 3 stairs does not qualify; she has low risk factors and rotates past 45° both ways. A is wrong because it treats any stair fall as dangerous. B is wrong because the age criterion is 65, not 50. D is wrong because a collar does nothing to clear the spine.
Ref: Blanpied et al, JOSPT 2017; Stiell et al, JAMA 2001.
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