Mountain evacuation ankle fracture — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: A — Splint, provide analgesia and arrange safe non-urgent evacuation

Splint, provide analgesia and arrange safe non-urgent evacuation is the best answer because stable isolated limb injury in remote terrain requires safe packaging and evacuation rather than emergency helicopter use by default. Remain on scene until observations normalise is less appropriate because normalising observations at scene can delay definitive treatment; Transport to the nearest minor injury unit is less appropriate because a minor injury unit cannot provide definitive major trauma care. Allow self-evacuation in a private vehicle and Transport to the nearest hospital without pre-alert are also suboptimal because they move attention away from the key pre-hospital priority.. The key DipIMC principle is to treat immediate reversible threats, communicate clearly and move the patient toward the right definitive care.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; Mountain rescue medical guidance