Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

What occurs during a dislocation?

1. A bone is partially out of joint

2. A bone is completely out of place

3. Soft tissue is damaged only

4. A fracture occurs

The correct answer is: A bone is completely out of place

A dislocation is characterized by a bone being completely out of its normal joint position. This condition occurs when there is an abnormal separation in the joint, which may involve one or more bones. During a dislocation, the ends of the bones are forced out of their normal alignment. This can lead to significant pain and impair normal movement, as well as potentially damaging surrounding tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and nerves. The other choices do not accurately describe a dislocation. A situation where a bone is merely partially out of joint describes a subluxation, not a complete dislocation. While soft tissue damage can occur during a dislocation, it is not the defining characteristic. Additionally, while fractures might accompany dislocations, they are not inherently part of the dislocation itself. Hence, the defining feature of a dislocation is indeed that a bone is completely out of place.