Orthopedic Board Review MCQs: Trauma, Spine & Peds - Set 433

Key Takeaway
This page offers 100 high-yield orthopedic board review questions designed to rigorously test and enhance your knowledge for major exams. It's Mock Exam Set #433, featuring challenging MCQs across Trauma, Spine, and Pediatrics, crucial for mastering ABOS, OITE, and FRCS board exams. Prepare effectively and improve your scores.
Comprehensive 100-Question Exam
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Question 1
When comparing surgical and nonsurgical extremities in patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using patellar tendon or hamstrings autografts, isokinetic strength measurements obtained 6 months after the surgery would most likely reveal
Explanation
Question 2
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 3
The 5-year outcome for patients with sciatica secondary to lumbar disk herniation shows which of the following results?
Explanation
Question 4
A 35-year-old recreational basketball player reports shoulder pain following a sprawl for a rebound. While examination reveals that he can actively elevate the arm with pain, a subacromial injection fails to provide relief. An MRI scan reveals medial subluxation of the long head of the biceps. Which of the following structures most likely has also been injured?
Explanation
Question 5
A 45-year-old man seen in the emergency department reports a 1-week history of worsening low back pain and a progressive neurologic deficit in the S1 distribution. Examination reveals 2/5 strength in the gastrocnemius. Laboratory studies show a WBC count of 13,500/mm3 and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 74 mm/h. Radiographs of the lumbosacral spine show narrowing of the L5-S1 disk space, with irregularity of the end plates. A sagittal T2-weighted MRI scan is shown in Figure 8. Definitive management should consist of

Explanation
Question 6
A 19-year-old man has had back pain with activity, especially running in soccer and baseball, for the past 4 months. He denies any history of trauma. Examination reveals no motor weakness or sensory changes in the lower extremities. Range of motion shows increased pain with extension and mild limitation with flexion. A sitting straight leg raising test is limited at approximately 60 degrees bilaterally by back and buttocks pain. Plain radiographs are normal. MRI scans are shown in Figures 13a through 13e. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 7
What normal tissue has a low signal intensity (appears black) on both T1- and T2-weighted images?

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Question 8
A 58-year-old woman who underwent a successful total hip replacement for degenerative arthritis 8 years ago reports groin pain for the past 6 months. A radiograph of the hip is shown in Figure 32. At revision, severe deficiency of the posterior column is noted. What reconstructive option would be most appropriate for the acetabulum?

Explanation
Question 9
A 24-year-old man sustains the injury shown in Figures 19a through 19e in a paragliding accident. He is neurologically intact. He also sustained fractures of his left femur and right distal radius. Which of the following represents the best option for management of the spinal injury?

Explanation
Question 10
It has been shown that bisphosphonate-based supportive therapy (pamidronate or zoledronate) reduces skeletal events (onset or progression of osteolytic lesions) both in patients with multiple myeloma and in cancer patients with bone metastasis. The use of biphosphonate therapy has been associated with

Explanation
Question 11
An 18-year-old football player lands on a flexed knee and ankle after being tackled. Examination reveals increased external rotation and posterior translation and varus at 30 degrees of flexion, which decreases as the knee is flexed to 90 degrees. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 12
If a laminectomy for spinal stenosis is performed, which of the following is an indication for concomitant arthrodesis at that level?

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Question 13
A 50-year-old woman who underwent a joint replacement of the hallux metatarsophalangeal joint 6 months ago now has pain and swelling about the great toe. Radiographs are shown in Figures 39a and 39b. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

Explanation
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Question 14
A 21-year-old professional baseball player has had painful catching and stiffness in his dominant right elbow for the past year. Examination reveals a flexion contracture of 2 degrees and mild pain with full elbow flexion. Radiographs are shown in Figures 33a and 33b. The most effective management should consist of

Explanation
Question 15
A 16-year-old girl injured her hip in a fall. Radiographs are shown in Figures 14a and 14b. She denies any history of pain prior to the fall and is currently asymptomatic. A bone scan, MRI scan, and biopsy specimens are shown in Figures 14c through 14f. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 16
Osteonecrosis of the humeral head is a rare complication seen after dislocation of the glenohumeral joint in skeletally immature patients. When this complication is encountered, treatment should consist of

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Question 17
Kinematic analysis of the medial and lateral menisci has demonstrated that the lateral meniscus has which of the following characteristics compared with the medial meniscus?
Explanation
Question 18
Figures 9a and 9b show the radiographs of a 28-year-old woman who sustained a head injury and a closed injury, without soft-tissue compromise, to her right lower extremity in a motor vehicle accident. Appropriate management of the foot injury should include

Explanation
Question 19
Figure 23 shows the postoperative radiograph of a patient who underwent an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (with bone-patella tendon-bone autograft) that failed. He initially had loss of flexion postoperatively. What is the most likely cause of this failure?

Explanation
Question 20
A 54-year-old man sustained a small superficial abrasion over the left acromioclavicular joint after falling from his bicycle. Examination reveals no other physical findings. Radiographs show a displaced fracture of the lateral end of the clavicle distal to a line drawn vertically to the coracoid process. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 21
Which of the following methodologies has been proven to be effective in reducing the use of homologous blood transfusion following total hip arthroplasty (THA)?

Explanation
Question 22
A 49-year-old woman noted pain in her right axilla 1 day after moving heavy furniture. Two weeks later, she now reports persistent numbness and paresthesias along the inner aspect of her upper arm radiating into the ulnar digits. Examination reveals full shoulder motion, tenderness over the first rib, and a decreased radial pulse with the shoulder placed overhead. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 23
The diagnosis of an infection after total knee arthroplasty is most reliably proven based on what single study?
Explanation
Question 24
A 12-year-old boy has severe left shoulder pain after being struck by an automobile. A chest radiograph, AP and lateral radiographs, and a CT scan with three-dimensional reconstruction of the scapula are shown in Figures 38a through 38d. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 25
An otherwise healthy 75-year-old man has a painful mass in the popliteal fossa of his right knee. A lateral radiograph of the knee, a CT scan of the distal femur, and a histopathologic specimen are shown in Figures 13a through 13c. Management should consist of

Explanation
Scientific References
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Question 26
A 10-year-old girl who is Risser stage 0 has back deformity associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). She has no back pain. Examination shows multiple cafe-au-lait nevi with normal lower extremity neurologic function and reflexes. Standing radiographs of the spine show a short 50-degree right thoracic scoliosis with a kyphotic deformity of 55 degrees (apex T8). A 10-degree progression in scoliosis has occurred during the past 1 year. There is no cervical deformity. MRI shows mild dural ectasia, primarily in the upper lumbar region. Management should consist of

Explanation
Question 27
A 42-year-old man has had left lower extremity pain in an L5 radicular pattern for the past 6 weeks. He denies significant axial low back pain. History reveals that he underwent an L4-5 diskectomy with successful relief of similar pain 5 years ago. Which of the following imaging studies would offer the greatest amount of information?
Explanation
Question 28
What is the primary limiting membrane and mechanical support for the periphery of the physis?

Explanation
Question 29 High Yield
A 30-year-old man caught his dominant little finger on the straps of his windsurfing board 10 days ago. He reports swelling about the distal phalanx and has difficulty completely extending the distal interphalangeal joint. A radiograph is shown in Figure 47. What is the most appropriate treatment for this injury?

Detailed Explanation
Question 30
Figures 4a and 4b show the radiographs of a 53-year-old woman who was injured in a fall. After initial closed reduction, what is the preferred treatment for this fracture?

Explanation
Question 31
Figure 40 shows the radiograph of a 16-year-old wrestler who injured his elbow when he was thrown to the mat by his opponent. Closed reduction is readily accomplished, and the elbow seems stable. Management should now consist of application of a splint for

Explanation
Question 32
In a longitudinal study of children with spastic diplegia, analysis of long-term function will most likely reveal
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Question 33
A 60-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer has progressive paraparesis. The MRI scan is shown in Figure 28. What form of management is most likely to restore or maintain ambulation?

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Question 34
A 40 year-old-man was involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustained the pelvic injury seen in Figures 24a and 24b. Definitive management of the injury should consist of reduction by

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Question 35
What muscle is most often encountered during surgical approaches to C5-6?
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Question 36
The MRI findings shown in Figure 51 would most likely create which of the following signs and symptoms?

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Question 37
Which of the following bearing surface combinations has shown the lowest in vivo wear rates in total hip arthroplasty?
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Question 38
A 22-year-old volleyball player reports the insidious onset of superior and posterior shoulder pain. Radiographs are normal. An MRI scan is shown in Figure 25. What is the most specific physical examination finding?

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Question 39
When using surgery extending to the pelvis to treat long spinal deformity in adults, the addition of anterior interbody structural support at the lumbosacral junction serves what biomechanical function?
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Question 40
Figure 21 shows the radiograph of a 32-year-old patient with right hip pain that has failed to respond to nonsurgical management. What is the most appropriate surgical treatment at this time?

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Question 41
Which of the following nerves is susceptible to entrapment near the calcaneal attachment site of the plantar fascia and can mimic or co-exist with plantar fasciitis?

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Question 42
A 53-year-old man has had a long history of multiple joint symptoms, and he notes that the worst pain is from his left shoulder. A radiograph and MRI scan are shown in Figures 13a and 13b. Prior to surgical treatment of the shoulder, what is the most appropriate work-up?

Explanation
Question 43
Which of the following tendons is the primary antagonist of the posterior tibialis tendon?

Explanation
Question 44
A 52-year-old woman reports the sudden onset of intense pain in the right shoulder. She denies any history of injury or previous shoulder problems. At a 2-week follow-up examination, she notes that the pain has decreased, but she now has severe weakness of the external rotators and abductors. Her cervical spine and remaining shoulder examination are otherwise unremarkable. Radiographs of the shoulder and neck are normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 45
What is the most important feature in choosing an outcome instrument to assess shoulder disorders?
Explanation
Question 46
A 6-month-old child is seen in the emergency department with a spiral fracture of the tibia. The parents are vague about the etiology of the injury. There is no family history of a bone disease. In addition to casting of the fracture, initial management should include
Explanation
Question 47
An otherwise healthy 54-year-old man who underwent a successful multilevel lumbar decompression and fusion 4 years ago now reports increasingly severe bilateral thigh claudication with paresthesia and severe back pain for the past 12 months. Physical therapy, bracing, and epidural steroids have failed to provide relief. A radiograph and MRI scans are shown in Figures 15a through 15c. He is afebrile, and laboratory studies show an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 5 mm/h and a normal WBC count. What is the best course of action?

Explanation
Question 48
A 58-year-old woman is seen in the emergency department after falling at home. History reveals that she underwent right total knee arthroplasty 2 years ago. Radiographs are shown in Figures 56a and 56b. What is the most appropriate treatment?

Explanation
Question 49
After trial placement of components in a primary total knee arthroplasty, the knee is unable to come to full extension, but the flexion gap is appropriately balanced. After adequate soft-tissue releases have been performed, what is the next most appropriate action to balance the reconstruction?
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Question 50
What is the most common donor site complication following a free vascularized fibular graft for osteonecrosis of the femoral head?
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Question 51
A 25-year-old man sustained the closed injury shown in Figures 22a and 22b. Examination reveals that this is an isolated injury, and he is hemodynamically stable. Treatment should consist of

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Question 52
A 10-year-old boy has had a prominent scapula for the past year. He reports crepitus and aching over the area, but only when he is active. A radiograph and CT scans are shown in Figures 37a through 37c. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 53
A 42-year-old man who is right-hand dominant injured his right shoulder when he fell from a ladder onto his outstretched arm 1 hour ago. Radiographs reveal a two-part greater tuberosity anterior fracture-dislocation. Initial management should consist of
Explanation
Question 54
An 18-year-old football player sustains a contact injury to his right lower leg, and radiographs show a closed transverse fracture of the middle third of the tibia. Based on the clinical examination, a compartment syndrome is suspected. When measuring compartment pressures, the highest tissue pressure is recorded how many centimeters proximal or distal to the fracture site?
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Question 55
Removal of both hallucal sesamoids should be reserved as a salvage procedure because of the high incidence of which of the following postoperative complications?

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Question 56
Figure 13 shows the radiographs of a 20-year-old intercollegiate basketball player who was injured 6 weeks prior to the start of the season. What is the most appropriate treatment?

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Question 57
A 50-year-old laborer sustained an isolated closed injury to his heel after falling 11 feet off a wall. A radiograph and a CT scan are shown in Figures 4a and 4b. To minimize the patient's temporary disability and allow him to return to work most rapidly, management should consist of

Explanation
Question 58
A 100-lb 9-year-old boy has a closed midshaft transverse femoral fracture. The oblique fracture is shortened by 3 cm with a 10-degree varus angulation. Surgical management consists of intramedullary, retrograde flexible titanium nailing. To optimize fracture stability, the surgeon should
Explanation
Question 59
A young man sustains a lumbar strain in an on-the-job motor vehicle accident. Both he and his treating physician feel that he is capable of limited duty with appropriate restrictions shortly after the injury. What term best describes his work status?
Explanation
Question 60
A 38-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus reports a 6-week history of fever and pain localized to the right sternoclavicular joint. Local signs on examination include swelling about the joint, erythema, and increased warmth. Initial aspiration of the joint reveals Staphylococcus aureus. Radiographs reveal medial clavicular osteolysis. What is the most effective treatment at this time?
Explanation
Question 61
A patient who underwent a L4-L5 hemilaminotomy and partial diskectomy for radiculopathy 8 weeks ago now reports increasing low back pain without neurologic symptoms. A sagittal T2-weighted MRI scan is shown in Figure 13a, and a contrast enhanced T1-weighted MRI scan is shown in Figure 13b. What is the most appropriate management for the patient's symptoms?

Explanation
Question 62
Initial postoperative management after repair of an acute rotator cuff tear includes
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Question 63
A 13-year-old boy has pain and a firm mass in his left knee. A radiograph and MRI scan are shown in Figures 2a and 2b, and a biopsy specimen is shown in Figure 2c. Based on these findings, what is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 64
What is the heaviest weight that can be safely applied to the adult cervical spine via Gardner-Wells tong traction?
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Question 65
A 25-year-old woman has significant pain and swelling in her left ankle after falling off her bicycle. Examination reveals that she is neurovascularly intact. Radiographs are shown in Figures 33a through 33c. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

Explanation
Question 66
A 23-year-old professional baseball pitcher reports shoulder pain and decreased velocity while pitching. Physical examination reveals a side-to-side internal rotation deficit of 25 degrees. The O'Brien sign is negative; Neer and Hawkins signs are negative. Rotator cuff strength is full. Radiographs are unremarkable. What is the next step in management?

Explanation
Question 67
A patient undergoes hip arthroscopy, and the pathology is seen in Figure 18. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Question 68
Passive glycation of articular cartilage results in
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Question 69
Which of the following best describes athletic pubalgia?
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Question 70
What is the most common benign bone tumor in childhood?
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Question 71
Which of the following is an important factor in performing a proper biopsy?

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Question 72
A teenager is undergoing a correction of deformity and lengthening of the femur. Distractions are proceeding as expected; however, during his 6-week follow-up examination, the patient reports that the distraction motors have become harder to turn over for the past 2 to 3 days. Figures 37a and 37b show current radiographs. What is the most likely complication being encountered?

Explanation
Question 73
An 18-year-old girl with quadriplegic cerebral palsy underwent posterior spinal fusion from T2 to the pelvis 3 weeks ago. She now has a low-grade fever and mild midline erythema in a 1-cm area from which there is slight clear yellowish drainage. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

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Question 74
Figure 28 shows the postoperative radiograph of a 36-year-old patient. The cerclage cable was placed for a minimal medial calcar fracture seen during femoral preparation. In the immediate postoperative period, what is the highest level of activity that would be safely permitted?

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Question 75
A 25-year-old man injures his shoulder while skiing. Examination reveals increased passive external rotation, pain in the cocked position, and a positive lift-off test. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Explanation
Question 76
A 37-year-old electrician is diagnosed with a frozen shoulder after sustaining an electrical injury at work 2 weeks ago. Examination reveals that he cannot actively or passively externally rotate or abduct the arm. The glenohumeral joint and scapula move in a 1:1 ratio. Radiographs are shown in Figures 15a and 15b. The best course of action should be

Explanation
Question 77
When performing a posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a tibial inlay-type approach, what is the approximate anatomic distance of the popliteal artery from the screws used for fixation of the bone block?
Explanation
Question 78
A 22-year-old right hand-dominant man who fell off his motorcycle onto the tip of his right shoulder 2 weeks ago now reports pain and difficulty raising his right arm. Examination reveals tenderness and gross movement over the lateral scapular spine and severe weakness during resisted abduction. A radiograph and 3D-CT scan are shown in Figures 24a and 24b. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

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Question 79
Figure 35 shows the AP radiograph of a patient who underwent a previous upper tibial osteotomy (UTO). The patient may be at risk for which of the following during total knee arthroplasty (TKA)?

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Question 80
When planning scoliosis surgery for a patient with a 50-degree thoracolumbar curve and spinal muscular atrophy, it is most important to include

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Question 81
The load versus deformation curve of the functional spinal unit (FSU) is made up of the neutral zone, the elastic zone, and the plastic zone. What is the plastic zone of the curve believed to represent?
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Question 82
In providing culturally competent care to a Muslim woman with a cervical spine injury, which of the following most accurately describes the steps a male orthopaedist should take to respect her religious beliefs during his examination?
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Question 83
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

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Question 84
Which of the following statements describing chordomas is false?

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Question 85
A 42-year-old woman has cervical stenosis and radicular deficits at the C5-6 and C6-7 levels. History reveals that she has smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for 25 years. Because nonsurgical management has failed to provide relief, she is now seeking surgical treatment. After preoperative counseling, it becomes clear that she is not likely to stop smoking. Which of the following surgical procedures should be used?
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Question 86
When an adult hip is surgically dislocated for relief of femoro-acetabular impingment, what is the risk of postoperative iatrogenic osteonecrosis?

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Question 87
A 21-year-old man has had posterior neck discomfort for the past 6 months. Radiographs, an MRI scan, and a photomicrograph of the biopsy specimen are shown in Figures 17a through 17d. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Question 88
What pharmacologic agents are preferred for the treatment of symptomatic active Paget's disease?

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Question 89
A 65-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus and plantar ulcers has an erythematous and swollen right foot and ankle. Despite IV antibiotics, the erythema spreads to her lower calf within 24 hours. She has a systolic blood pressure of 80/55 mm Hg and a pulse rate of 120. Laboratory studies show a creatinine level of 1.5 mg. Initial management should consist of
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Question 90
Following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which of the following rehabilitation exercises has the greatest potential to harm the graft?
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Question 91
The transverse diameter of the pedicle is most narrow at which of the following levels?

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Question 92
A 26-year-old woman sustained a nondisplaced femoral neck fracture and treatment consisted of use of percutaneous cannulated screws. At her 3-month follow-up visit, she reports hip pain and is unable to ambulate. A radiograph is shown in Figure 1. What is the next most appropriate treatment?

Explanation
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Question 93
A 14-year-old competitive gymnast has had activity-related low back pain for the past month. Examination reveals no pain with forward flexion, but she has some discomfort when resuming an upright position. She also has pain with extension and lateral bending of the spine. The neurologic examination is normal. Popliteal angles measure 20 degrees. AP, lateral, and oblique views of the lumbar spine are negative. What is the next most appropriate step in management?
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Question 94
Consider the theoretic articulation shown in Figure 11 as femoral and tibial components of a total knee prosthesis in which the components fit like a "roller in trough." Which of the following best describes the articulation?

Explanation
Question 95
A 61-year-old woman with a long-standing history of rheumatoid arthritis reports progressive elbow pain for the past 12 months. She denies any recent trauma to the elbow; however, she notes increasing pain and decreased joint motion that are now compromising her function. Radiographs are shown in Figures 57a and 57b. What is the most appropriate treatment at this time?

Explanation
Question 96
An 18-month-old child sustains a crush amputation of the tip of the index finger. Bone is exposed, but the nail is intact. Management should consist of

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Question 97
During placement of an external fixator for a distal radius fracture, the most commonly injured nerve is a branch of which of the following nerves?

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Question 98
What are the most common portals for arthroscopic surgery of the ankle?

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Question 99
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 100
Which of the following substances makes up the majority by weight of the extracellular matrix for articular cartilage?
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