How many proximal long bone fractures qualify as a trauma positive finding in the secondary assessment?

• A. One
• B. Two
• C. Three
• D. Four

Answer: (B)

In the secondary assessment, a finding is considered trauma positive when it signals a high likelihood of significant, multisystem injury. Proximal long bones include areas like the femur and humerus near the joints. Fractures in these bones can result from high-energy trauma and are associated with substantial blood loss and potential injuries to other body systems. Having two proximal long bone fractures indicates a more severe pattern of injury than a single fracture, so it meets the threshold for a trauma positive finding. A single fracture can be isolated, while two or more suggest multisystem trauma requiring heightened care and rapid escalation.