Which of the following is a trauma secondary assessment finding?

• A. Laceration of scalp
• B. Simple contusion of thigh
• C. Two or more proximal long bone fractures
• D. Sprain of ankle

Answer: (C)

In trauma care, after the initial life-threats are addressed in the primary survey, a thorough head‑to‑toe secondary assessment is performed to uncover injuries that aren’t immediately life-threatening but still require prompt treatment. This assessment focuses on finding deformities, tenderness, swelling, and neurovascular status across all major body regions, helping to identify the extent of injuries.

Finding two or more proximal long bone fractures fits this pattern best. Proximal long bones (such as the femur or humerus) are large, high-energy injury indicators. When you discover fractures in more than one of these sites, it signals significant trauma and multiple injuries, which you would systematically document and address during the secondary survey. The presence of such fractures guides urgent management decisions and highlights the severity of the trauma.

The other options describe injuries that can occur but aren’t as diagnostic of the secondary survey’s purpose. A scalp laceration is a common finding and may be noted during the secondary exam, a simple thigh contusion is often minor, and an ankle sprain is a soft-tissue injury; none of these demonstrate the multi‑injury severity that multiple proximal long bone fractures reveal during a thorough secondary assessment.