100 Orthopedic Surgery MCQs: Board Review Mock Exam Set #343

Key Takeaway
This page features 100 high-yield Orthopedic Surgery MCQs, perfect for ABOS, OITE, and FRCS board exam review. Mock Exam Set #343 offers a comprehensive practice test covering trauma, spine, adult reconstruction, and pediatrics. Surgeons can master their certification exams by testing their knowledge.
Comprehensive 100-Question Exam
00:00
Start Quiz
Question 1
A 75-year-old patient returns for follow-up after undergoing bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA). The right hip is a hybrid THA performed 12 years ago, whereas the left hip is a cementless THA performed 10 years ago. Both acetabular components are the same type, same size, and from the same manufacturer. Both femoral heads are 28-mm cobalt-chromium components. What is the most likely explanation for the advanced polyethylene wear in one hip?
Explanation
Question 2
A 40-year-old right hand-dominant construction worker has had a 6-month history of aching left shoulder pain that is worse after working a long day. Examination reveals limited range of motion and good strength when compared to his asymptomatic right arm. He has not had any orthopaedic intervention to date. Radiographs are shown in Figures 43a and 43b. What is the most appropriate treatment?

Explanation
Question 3
A 7-year-old boy sustained an acute puncture wound of the foot after stepping barefoot on a piece of glass 1 day ago. His mother states that she is not sure if she got the piece of glass out; however, she reports that his immunizations are up-to-date. Examination reveals that the wound is slightly erythematous, less than 1 mm in length on the heel, and is not currently draining. What is the next most appropriate step im management?

Explanation
Question 4
Figure 50 shows the MRI scan of a 20-year-old female college soccer player with knee pain. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 5
Figures 35a and 35b show the radiographs of a 7-year-old patient who has progressive deformity of the right thigh accompanied by a dull persistent pain radiating to the knee. Examination reveals an obvious bulge in the right thigh, with flexion of the hip beyond 50 degrees only if the hip is allowed to externally rotate. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 6
A 7-year-old child is unresponsive, tachycardic, and has a systolic blood pressure of 50 mm Hg after being struck by a car. The patient is intubated and venous access is obtained. The secondary survey reveals an unstable pelvis. Despite adequate resuscitation, the patient continues to be hemodynamically unstable. What is the best course of action?
Explanation
Question 7
A 2-year-old girl has had a 2-day history of fever and refuses to move her left shoulder following varicella. Laboratory studies show an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 75 mm/h and a peripheral WBC count of 18,000/mm3. What is the most common organism in this scenario?

Explanation
Question 8
A 16-year-old female swimmer reports several episodes of atraumatic glenohumeral instability that occur with different arm positions. Examination reveals generalized ligamentous laxity and a positive sulcus sign, and her shoulder can be subluxated both anteriorly and posteriorly. Initial management should consist of

Explanation
Question 9
The preferred surgical approach to the elbow of a child with an irreducible type III supracondylar distal humerus fracture and pulseless extremity is through which of the following muscle intervals?
Explanation
Question 10
A 16-year-old girl has had anterior leg pain and a mass for the past 8 months. Figures 2a and 2b show a radiograph and an H & E histologic specimen. Which of the following disorders is believed to be a precursor of this lesion?

Explanation
Question 11
Figure 21 shows the radiograph of an 18-year-old man who was brought to the emergency department with shoulder pain following a rollover accident on an all-terrain vehicle. Examination reveals a fracture with massive swelling; however, the skin is intact and not tented over the fracture. Based on these findings, initial management should consist of

Explanation
Question 12
A 72-year-old woman who fell on her right shoulder while using a treadmill is now unable to elevate her right arm. An MRI scan is shown in Figure 7. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 13
Figure 45 shows the current radiograph of an 11-year-old girl who sustained a simple nondisplaced fracture of the distal radius 4 weeks ago. Management at the time of injury consisted of application of a short arm cast but no manipulation. What is the major concern at this time?

Explanation
Question 14
A 45-year-old man who underwent an ankle arthrodesis reports that for the first 6 years he had significant pain relief after the fusion healed. However, he now has increasing pain in the sinus tarsi. AP and lateral radiographs are shown in Figures 8a and 8b. What is the most likely cause of the patient's symptoms?

Explanation
Question 15
A 26-year-old man was thrown from a car and sustained the injury seen in Figures 44a and 44b. Nonsurgical management of this injury is recommended. Which of the following factors increases the risk of nonunion?

Explanation
Question 16
Which of the following nerves is most likely responsible for symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis?

Explanation
Question 17
A 47-year-old man sustained a degloving injury over the pretibial surface and anterior ankle region in a motor vehicle accident. After debridement and irrigation, there is inadequate tissue for closure of the exposed anterior tibial tendon and tibia. Prior to definitive soft-tissue coverage, management should consist of
Explanation
Question 18
A 28-year-old man has left knee pain after a snow skiing accident. The MRI scan shown in Figure 47 reveals which of the following?

Explanation
Question 19
An 11-year-old boy has right shoulder pain and has been unwilling to use the arm after throwing a baseball in a Little League game 3 weeks ago. Examination reveals upper arm and shoulder tenderness with swelling. A radiograph and MRI scan are shown in Figures 27a and 27b. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 20
A 30-year-old patient has wrist pain. A radiograph and biopsy specimen are shown in Figures 34a and 34b. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 21
Figures 17a and 17b show the radiographs of a 32-year-old professional athlete who sustained an injury to the first metatarsal. A view of the opposite noninjured side is shown in Figure 17c. Management of the fracture should consist of

Explanation
Question 22
An 11-year-old boy has had a fever and pain and swelling over the lateral aspect of his right ankle for the past 3 days. Examination reveals warmth, swelling, and tenderness over the lateral malleolus, and he has a temperature of 103.2 degrees F (39.5 degrees C). Laboratory studies show a WBC count of 13,200/mm3 with 61% neutrophils, an erythocyte sedimentation rate of 112 mm/h, and a C-reactive protein of 15.7. Radiographs and a T2-weighted MRI scan are shown in Figures 13a through 13c. Aspiration yields 1 mL of purulent fluid. Management should now consist of

Explanation
Question 23
A 26-year-old man has had hand pain and progressive swelling in the knuckle for the past several months. He denies any trauma to the hand. The ring finger metacarpophalangeal joint is tender, and there is loss of motion in the digit. Figure 32a shows the radiograph and Figures 32b through 32d show the T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and gadolinium MRI scans, respectively. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 24
A 30-year-old farmer undergoes replantation of an above-the-elbow amputation. What form of management is most important following this surgery?
Explanation
Question 25
What malignant disease most commonly develops in conjunction with chronic osteomyelitis?

Explanation
Question 26
A 67-year-old woman undergoes a revision total shoulder arthroplasty for replacement of a loose glenoid component. Examination in the recovery room reveals absent voluntary deltoid and triceps contraction, weakness of wrist and thumb extension, and absent sensation in the palmar aspect of all fingertips and the radial forearm. The next most appropriate step in management should consist of
Explanation
Question 27
A 12-year-old boy with an ankle fracture undergoes closed reduction under sedation in the emergency department. Figure 27 shows a lateral radiograph of the ankle after two attempts at closed reduction. Based on these findings, treatment should now consist of

Explanation
Question 28
A 42-year-old woman reports that she has low back pain and had a transient loss of consciousness after falling off a horse. She denies having neck pain but notes that she was involved in a motor vehicle accident 2 years ago and had neck pain at that time. Examination reveals full range of motion of the neck and no localized tenderness. The neurologic examination is normal. A lateral radiograph of the cervical spine is obtained. Figures 41a and 41b show CT and MRI scans. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 29
An otherwise healthy 13-year-old boy sustains the fracture shown in Figure 40 while throwing a fastball. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 30
For halo traction, what is the preferred site for anterior pin placement?
Explanation
Question 31
Which of the following primary prognostic factors best predicts the outcome of the knee lesion shown in Figure 22?

Explanation
Question 32
An otherwise healthy 78-year-old woman has low back and buttock pain. Rectal examination reveals a large sacral mass. Figures 7a and 7b show a CT scan and a sagittal MRI scan of the lumbosacral spine. A biopsy specimen is shown in Figure 7c. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 33
Osteoclasts originate from which of the following cell types?
Explanation
Question 34
A 52-year-old woman has bicompartmental osteoarthritis following patellectomy. Treatment should consist of
Explanation
Question 35
An 18-year-old man sustained closed humeral shaft and forearm fractures of his dominant arm in a motor vehicle accident. Neurovascular examination is intact, and his condition is stable. The best course of action for management of the injuries should be

Explanation
Question 36
What is the most accurate description of the relationship between gender and knee loading during landing while playing basketball?
Explanation
Question 37
What is the most common reason for reoperation in total knee arthroplasty?

Explanation
Question 38
A 22-year-old woman has had progressive upper extremity weakness for the past several years. History reveals no pain in her neck or shoulders. Examination reveals scapular winging of both shoulders and weakness in external rotation. She can abduct to only 120 degrees bilaterally, and there is mild supraspinatus weakness. She is otherwise neurologically intact with normal sensation and reflexes; however, she has difficulty whistling. A clinical photograph is shown in Figure 14. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 39
Subluxation caused by rheumatoid arthritis is most commonly seen at what level of the cervical spine?

Explanation
Question 40
A 28-year-old professional football player reports painless loss of ankle motion after sustaining a "severe" ankle sprain 12 months ago. A mortise radiograph is shown in Figure 1. Surgical treatment should be reserved for which of the following conditions?

Explanation
Question 41
A 40-year-old carpenter has a 3-month history of right arm pain and neck pain that now leaves him unable to work. Examination reveals a positive Spurling test, weakness of the biceps, and a mildly positive Hoffman's sign on the right side. Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity studies show a right C6 deficit. Figures 27a through 27c show MRI scans that reveal two-level spondylotic disease at C5-6 and C6-7, a large herniated nucleus pulposus at C5-6, and a prominent ridge and hard disk at C6-7. Nonsurgical management fails to provide relief, so the patient elects surgical intervention. Which of the following surgical options would give the best long-term results?

Explanation
Question 42
Based on the radiographic findings shown in Figure 41, which of the following wrist ligaments is most likely disrupted?

Explanation
Question 43
Figure 8 shows the CT scan of an 11-year-old boy who has had a 1-year history of worsening painful flatfeet. He reports pain associated with physical education at school, especially with running and jumping. Management consisting of activity restriction, anti-inflammatory drugs, and casting has failed to provide relief. Treatment should now consist of

Explanation
Question 44
A patient underwent an anterior cervical diskectomy and interbody fusion for a C5-6 herniated nucleus pulposus and left C6 radiculopathy 8 months ago. He now reports new onset of severe neck pain and left C6 radicular pain, with wrist extension weakness. The radiograph and CT scan shown in Figures 26a and 26b reveal pseudarthrosis at C5-6. The next step in management should consist of

Explanation
Question 45
A 65-year-old woman has significant neck pain after falling and striking her head. A radiograph and sagittal CT scan are shown in Figures 23a and 23b. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 46
Which of the following complications may occur subsequent to resurfacing hip arthroplasty for osteonecrosis of the hip but not after total hip arthroplasty?
Explanation
Question 47
The tibiofibular overlap used to diagnose syndesmotic diastasis on an AP view is most commonly measured between the
Explanation
Question 48
The brachialis muscle is innervated by what two nerves?

Explanation
Question 49
A female cross-country runner has an insidious onset of right groin pain. Radiographs of the right hip reveal a tension-side stress fracture. History reveals that she was treated for a "foot" fracture 1 year ago. In addition to performing internal fixation of the femoral neck, which of the following should be obtained?
Explanation
Question 50
A 13-year-old girl who is 2 years postmenarche has been referred for management of scoliosis. She denies any history of back pain. Radiographs show a right thoracic curve of 35 degrees. She has a Risser sign of 4 and a bone age of 15.5 years. Management should consist of
Explanation
Question 51
Figure 20 shows the radiograph of a 21-year-old college basketball player who jammed his left index finger on the rim. He reports pain and tenderness over the dorsum of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. Examination reveals that he is unable to actively extend the DIP joint; however, the skin is intact. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 52
A 28-year-old painter has had increasing pain in his hand and forearm after sustaining a paint injection wound to the tip of his left index finger 24 hours ago. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 53
What is the most common complication of halo vest immobilization in adults?
Explanation
Question 54
During the application of halo skeletal fixation, the most appropriate position for the placement of the anterior halo pins is approximately 1 cm above the superior orbital rim and
Explanation
Question 55
A 22-year-old man has mild hip pain bilaterally and multiple skeletal lesions. Based on the pelvic radiograph shown in Figure 30, what is the inheritance pattern for his disorder?

Explanation
Question 56
A 19-year-old female long-distance runner has an incomplete tension-side femoral neck stress fracture. Management should consist of
Explanation
Question 57
A 3-year-old boy with severe cerebral palsy is unable to sit independently and does not crawl. Examination reveals a 40-degree hip flexion contracture by the Thomas test and 25 degrees of passive abduction. A radiograph of the pelvis shows subluxation of both hips, with a migration index of 30%. Management should consist of
Explanation
Question 58
A previously asymptomatic 12-year-old girl sustained a direct blow to the right lateral knee from a baseball bat. Examination reveals an area of ecchymosis and tenderness over the lateral thigh. The patient can walk without pain, but range of motion of the knee causes discomfort. Plain radiographs of the knee are shown in Figures 11a and 11b. To address the bone lesion, management should consist of

Explanation
Question 59
During the implantation of a cementless acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty, placement of a screw in the anterior superior quadrant puts which of the following structures at risk for damage?
Explanation
Question 60
A 72-year-old woman who is right hand-dominant has severe pain in the right shoulder that has failed to respond to nonsurgical management. She reports night pain and significant disability. Examination reveals 30 degrees of active forward elevation. An AP radiograph is shown in Figure 27. Which of the following treatment options will provide the best functional improvement?

Explanation
Question 61
Figure 6 shows the radiograph of a 14-year-old baseball player who felt a pop and had an immediate onset of pain in his elbow after a hard throw from the outfield. The best course of action should be to

Explanation
Question 62
A 72-year-old man injured his right shoulder after tripping over a chair leg. Radiographs obtained in the emergency department reveal an isolated anterior dislocation. After successful closed reduction, the patient has recurrent anterior instability and is unable to elevate the arm. What is the most likely cause of the recurrent instability?

Explanation
Question 63
A 17-year-old high school gymnast who has peripatellar knee pain has been unable to practice on a consistent basis for the past 3 years. She denies any specific injury events. Physical therapy for modalities, quadriceps strengthening, and hamstring stretching provide temporary relief. A trial of patellar taping significantly reduces her pain. Examination reveals an 15-degree Q angle, moderate lateral facet tenderness, negative patellar apprehension, and the inability to evert the patella. Radiographs show a moderate lateral patellar tilt. Treatment should now consist of
Explanation
Question 64
What is the typical MRI signal intensity of bone marrow affected by acute osteomyelitis?

Explanation
Question 65
Which of the following is considered the most common infectious organism causing osteochondritis in pediatric puncture wounds of the foot?

Explanation
Question 66
Which of the following best describes athletic pubalgia?
Explanation
Question 67
The modified Brostrom lateral ankle ligamentous reconstruction uses which of the following structures to provide supplementary stabilization?

Explanation
Question 68
Figures 21a and 21b show the radiographs of a 22-year-old man who has had progressive pain and swelling about the knee for the past 6 weeks. Examination reveals limited range of motion and fullness about the knee. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 69
A 75-year-old woman undergoes hybrid total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. A postoperative radiograph obtained in the recovery room is shown in Figure 18. Treatment should now consist of

Explanation
Question 70
Figures 35a and 35b show the radiographs of a patient who underwent debridement of a chronically infected, fully constrained knee prosthesis and now reports pain and instability despite bracing. History reveals that the patient has had no drainage since undergoing the last debridement 6 months ago. A C-reactive protein level and aspiration are negative for infection. Treatment should now consist of

Explanation
Question 71
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis has a rupture of the extensor digitorum communis to 4 and 5. You are planning to perform an extensor indicis proprius (EIP) tendon transfer. What effect will this have on index finger extension?
Explanation
Question 72
Figure 37 shows the clinical photograph of a 1-day-old infant who weighed 10.25 lb at birth. Examination reveals an absent right Moro reflex and limited active motion of the right shoulder, elbow, and wrist, but flexion of the fingers. Passive range of motion of the shoulder and elbow is normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 73
At the L4-5 level, what is the location of the S2-5 nerve roots in relationship to the L5 and S1 nerve roots?
Explanation
Question 74
A 30-year-old patient has acetabular dysplasia and moderate secondary osteoarthrosis. Which of the following studies will best help predict the success of periacetabular osteotomy?
Explanation
Question 75
What changes in muscle physiology would be expected in an athlete who begins a rigorous aerobic program for an upcoming marathon?
Explanation
Question 76
Spontaneous recovery of upper extremtiy motor function after a cerebrovascular accident occurs in which of the following predictable patterns?

Explanation
Question 77
Hamstring lengthening and posterior transfer of the rectus femoris will be most successful in a patient with cerebral palsy who has which of the following gait abnormalities?
Explanation
Question 78
What percent of the adult human meniscus is vascularized?
Explanation
Question 79
Examination of a 10-year-old girl with a hypoplastic breast and atrophic pectoralis major may also reveal which of the following findings?
Explanation
References:
- Poland A: Deficiency of the pectoralis muscle. Guys Hosp Rep 1841;6:191.
Question 80
What is the heaviest weight that can be safely applied to the adult cervical spine via Gardner-Wells tong traction?
Explanation
Question 81
An active 49-year-old woman who sustained a diaphyseal fracture of the clavicle 8 months ago now reports persistent shoulder pain with daily activities. An AP radiograph is shown in Figure 8. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 82
Figures 28a through 28c show the MRI scans of a 30-year-old woman who weighs 290 lb and has low back and left leg pain. She also reports frequent urinary dribbling, which her gynecologist has advised her may be related to obesity. Examination will most likely reveal

Explanation
Question 83
A 63-year-old man with type I diabetes mellitus who underwent open forefoot amputation now has a high fever, and an elevated WBC count and blood glucose levels. Repeat laboratory studies the day after surgery show a WBC count of 9,500/mm3, a serum albumin level of 1.9 g/dL, and a total lymphocyte count of 1,900/mm3. Examination reveals that he is afebrile, and his blood glucose level is now normal. An ultrasound Doppler of the dorsalis pedis artery shows an ankle-brachial index of 0.6. A transcutaneous partial pressure measurement of oxygen at the ankle joint shows a level of 38 mm Hg. What is the best course of action?

Explanation
Question 84
The correct starting point for an external fixation half pin placed into the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) is labeled by what letter in Figure 3?

Explanation
Question 85
Which of the following is a true statement regarding thoracic disk herniations?
Explanation
Question 86
The vessel seen in the clinical photographs shown in Figures 50a and 50b (1,2 intercompartmental supraretinacular artery) is being dissected to be used as a source of vascularized bone graft for a patient who is scheduled to undergo internal fixation of a scaphoid nonunion. This vessel is a branch of what artery?

Explanation
Question 87
A 15-year-old boy falls from his bicycle and sustains an injury to his elbow. Prereduction radiographs are shown in Figure 12a. Closed reduction is performed without difficulty and postreduction radiographs are shown in Figure 12b. What is the next most appropriate step in treatment?

Explanation
Question 88
A 19-year-old woman reports lower back pain following a motor vehicle accident. Radiographs obtained immediately after the accident and a bone scan obtained 4 weeks later are shown in Figures 25a through 25c. The patient asks questions regarding the cause, genetics, and natural history of her condition. She should be informed that the condition was

Explanation
Question 89
Figure 10 shows the radiograph of an active 75-year-old woman who reports severe leg pain after a fall. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 90
A professional baseball player has had intermittent, mild shoulder pain for the past 2 years. Nonsurgical management has consisted of anti-inflammatory drugs. Examination reveals atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle but not the supraspinatus. There is weakness in external rotation with the arm at his side but not at 90 degrees of abduction. He has no weakness or pain with resisted abduction. Electromyography confirms an isolated lesion of the suprascapular nerve branch to the infraspinatus. He is otherwise neurologically intact. An MRI scan of the shoulder shows no cysts but confirms atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

Explanation
Question 91
What effect does deep freezing have on allograft tissue?

Explanation
Question 92
Figure 33 shows the MRI scan of a 55-year-old woman who has had a 6-week history of back and leg pain. Which of the following clinical scenarios is most consistent with the MRI scan findings at L4-L5?

Explanation
Question 93
A 51-year-old woman with no preoperative neurologic deficit is undergoing elective anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) with plating and fusion for a C5-6 disk herniation with right-sided neck pain. Thirty minutes into the surgery the neurophysiologic monitoring shows a rapid drop and then loss of amplitude in the right cortical somatosensory-evoked potential waveform. All other waveforms remained normal and unchanged, including right-sided cervical (subcortical) and peripheral (Erb's point), and those from the left-sided upper extremity and both lower extremities. What is the most likely cause of the change?

Explanation
Question 94
Examination of the shoulder seen in Figure 52 shows atrophy and tenderness of the infraspinous fossa and profound weakness in external rotation. The supraspinous fossa shows normal muscle bulk. What is the most likely cause of this condition?

Explanation
Question 95
A 71-year-old woman undergoes a posterior lumbar decompression and fusion from L4-S1. Thirty-six hours after the procedure, she reports severe right-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. Doppler ultrasound reveals a clot proximal to the knee within the femoral vein. A large pulmonary embolus is confirmed by CT angiography. The next most appropriate step in management should consist of

Explanation
Question 96
A 23-year-old man has had heel pain and fullness for the past several months. He reports that initially the pain was present only with activity, but more recently the pain has become constant. Figures 53a through 53d show a radiograph, a bone scan, and T2-weighted and gadolinium MRI scans. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 97
In hip arthroplasty, the location of the medial femoral circumflex artery is best described as

Explanation
Question 98
An adult patient with a grade I isthmic spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 is most likely to have weakness of the

Explanation
Question 99
A 21-year-old man has had progressive right knee pain for the past 2 months that is exacerbated with weight-bearing activities. A plain radiograph and an MRI scan are shown in Figures 43a and 43b. A biopsy specimen is shown in Figure 43c. According to the Enneking staging system of tumor classification, the lesion should be classified as what stage?

Explanation
Question 100
Which of the following methods is effective in correcting recurrent dislocation following total hip arthroplasty?
Explanation
🔗 Read the comprehensive guide: 100 Random Orthopedic MCQs for Board Prep (2026 Update)