Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

Who is responsible for protecting an unsplintered fracture during patient positioning?

1. Circulator

2. Surgical technologist preceptor

3. Surgeon

4. Anesthesia provider

The correct answer is: Surgeon

The responsibility for protecting an unsplintered fracture during patient positioning primarily falls to the surgeon. This is because the surgeon has the most comprehensive understanding of the patient's surgical needs and the precise positioning required to avoid further injury to the fracture. The surgeon must carefully assess how the patient is positioned to maintain stability and alignment of the fracture, especially in procedures where bone integrity is critical. In the surgical setting, proper positioning is crucial not only for the success of the operation but also for patient safety. The surgeon will often provide direct instructions or guidance on how to position the patient to ensure that the fractured area is well-supported and avoids unnecessary movement that could lead to complications. Other members of the surgical team, such as the circulator, surgical technologist, and anesthesia provider, play supportive roles in the positioning process but do not have the primary responsibility for directly protecting the fracture. Instead, they support the surgeon’s efforts by ensuring that positioning equipment is available and correctly used according to the surgeon's directives.