Which injury is typically addressed in the secondary survey?

The correct choice involves a forearm fracture, which is generally identified during the secondary survey, a detailed and systematic assessment of the patient after immediate life-threatening conditions have been addressed.

The secondary survey focuses on identifying less obvious injuries that may not pose an immediate threat to life but still require evaluation and management. A forearm fracture fits this description as it is typically not life-threatening but needs to be diagnosed and treated appropriately. During the secondary survey, clinicians perform a thorough physical examination and review the patient's history and vital signs, enabling them to recognize injuries such as fractures that might require further intervention, such as immobilization or further imaging studies.

In contrast, injuries such as bilateral femur fractures with obvious deformity, open fractures with bleeding, or unstable pelvic fractures represent more severe injuries that could lead to immediate instability and compromise the patient's hemodynamic status. These injuries would be prioritized in the primary survey when life-threatening conditions are assessed first, whereas a forearm fracture, given it tends to be less acute and serious, would be detected during the secondary survey.