Master the Mayhem: 2025 ATLS Practice Exam – Be the Trauma Hero!

A high-riding prostate can indicate pelvic injury or potentially a hollow viscus injury during a rectal exam. This clinical finding suggests that there may be disruption to the surrounding anatomy, particularly in cases of pelvic trauma, where the prostate may be displaced due to blood or hematoma accumulation in the retropubic space.

This displacement is more likely in instances of significant trauma where either a fracture or significant soft tissue injury in the pelvic region has occurred. In contrast, while the other options might indicate other conditions within the rectal area, they do not specifically suggest pelvic or hollow viscus injury. Rectal fullness could occur due to various reasons unrelated to traumatic injuries, anal fissures are more closely associated with local rectal issues such as straining or constipation, and constipation itself does not directly point to traumatic injury. Thus, the presence of a high-riding prostate is a more definitive indicator of possible pelvic or hollow viscus injury.