Practitioner Sample Written Exam

Following are sample questions that are similar to those you will find on the orthotic written examination.

1. The muscle that has the PRIMARY responsibility of rotating the thumb to touch the tips of the index and middle fingers is the:

A. Opponens pollicis

B. Flexor pollicis longus

C. Abductor pollicis brevis 

D. Extensor pollicis longus

2. What is the MOST important factor in decreasing the vertical loading of the lumbar spine?

A. Application of a three-point pressure system for vertical stabilization

B. Enhancement of the abdominal hydropneumatic mechanism

C. Strengthening of the gluteal and abdominal musculature

D. Immobilization of the thoracolumbar spine

3. In which of the following conditions is a Milwaukee CTLSO contraindicated?

A. Skeletal immaturity

B. Idiopathic scoliosis

C. Thoracolumbar curves

D. Curves greater than 60 degrees

4. The measurement for a TLSO (anterior hypertension orthosis) should be taken with the patient in what position?

A. Standing erect

B. Sitting erect

C. Lying prone

D. Lying supine

5. Which of the following orthoses is designed to manage spondylolisthesis in an active teenager?

A. LSO (Corset) 

B. LSO (Knight)

C. Jewitt

D. LSO (Anterior Overlap)

6. The trim lines of a ground reaction ankle foot orthosis should be anterior to the malleoli to serve as a:

A. Dorsiflexion assist

B. Plantarflexion assist

C. Dorsiflexion stop

D. Plantarflexion stop

7. The orthotic recommendation for treating a patient with an ulnar nerve lesion at the wrist is an opponens orthosis plus what component?

A. IP extension assist

B. Thumb post

C. MP stop

D. Opponens bar

8. When treating a patient with a knee flexion contracture, what is the MOST appropriate knee joint to use when designing a KAFO?

A. Dial lock joint

B. Polycentric joint

C. Extension stop knee joint

D. Bail lock joint

9. Facilities material safety data sheets should be:

A. Read by all staff that uses the materials. 

B. Stored safely in the manufacturing business office. 

C. Filed with the Food and Drug Administration. 

D. Sent to the HCFA office in your region.

10. A patient who has relocated to your area comes in with a device fabricated at another orthotics and prosthetics facility. The patient is in your office because of discomfort and dissatisfaction with the overall fit. Upon evaluation you notice some minor fitting problems, but the main problem is that the assembly of the device is structurally unsound.

What should you do?

A. Tell the patient that his device is no good, nor is his practitioner.

B. Tell the patient to go back to where the device was fabricated.

C. Provide immediate structural repair, then consult with the patient’s physician to schedule for a replacement.

D. Discuss the fitting problems, but do nothing until the patient can pay for a new device.

Orthotic Answer Key:

1. A 2. B 3. D 4. D 5. D 6. C 7. C 8. A 9. A 10. C