New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

What is the term used when the bone ends of a joint are out of place?

1. Fracture

2. Subluxation

3. Dislocation

4. Sprain

The correct answer is: Dislocation

The term that describes the condition when the bone ends of a joint are out of place is dislocation. A dislocation occurs when the articulating surfaces of a joint are separated, preventing normal function of the joint. This condition typically results from trauma or excessive force applied to a joint, causing significant pain, swelling, and immobility. In a dislocation, the joint's normal alignment is disrupted, which can lead to damage to surrounding ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. The treatment for a dislocation usually involves manual repositioning of the bones back into their normal alignment, often requiring medical intervention. Understanding the difference between dislocation and related conditions, such as fracture, subluxation, and sprain, is essential. A fracture refers to a break in the bone itself, while a subluxation is a partial dislocation where the surfaces are misaligned but still in contact. A sprain involves a stretching or tearing of ligaments around a joint without any separation of the bone ends. Thus, dislocation specifically indicates a complete displacement of the bones at a joint, making it the correct term for this scenario.