Surgical Anatomy & Approaches MCQs

A 28-year-old professional volleyball player presents with insidious onset of posterior shoulder pain and weakness. MRI reveals isolated atrophy of the teres minor. The entrapped nerve is located in a quadrilateral space bounded superiorly by which anatomic structure?

A 28-year-old weightlifter presents with isolated wasting of the infraspinatus muscle and weakness in external rotation. An MRI reveals a paralabral cyst. Where is the most likely location of the cyst and the associated nerve compression?

A 35-year-old overhead athlete complains of posterior shoulder pain and numbness over the lateral deltoid. MRI shows isolated teres minor atrophy. Which vascular structure is most likely compressed along with the involved nerve?

During a deltopectoral approach to the shoulder, how far distal to the lateral acromion does the axillary nerve typically traverse the deep surface of the deltoid muscle?

During the deltopectoral approach to the shoulder, the cephalic vein is typically identified in the internervous plane between the deltoid and pectoralis major. To minimize the risk of bleeding from its major tributaries, the cephalic vein should ideally be retracted in which direction?

A 35-year-old recreational tennis player presents with vague posterior shoulder pain and paresthesias over the lateral deltoid. An MRI of the shoulder reveals isolated atrophy and fatty infiltration of the teres minor muscle. Which of the following structures is most likely compressed?

A 28-year-old professional volleyball player presents with isolated weakness in external rotation of the dominant shoulder. Abduction strength is 5/5. MRI reveals a paralabral cyst. Where is the cyst most likely located and which nerve is compressed?

A 35-year-old overhead athlete complains of poorly localized posterior shoulder pain and fatigue with throwing. MRI demonstrates isolated atrophy and fatty infiltration of the teres minor muscle. Compression of the neurovascular bundle in the quadrilateral space is suspected. What structures are at risk in this anatomic space?

A 65-year-old female sustains a displaced 3-part proximal humerus fracture. Examination reveals decreased sensation over the lateral aspect of the deltoid. Which nerve is most likely injured, and what primary muscle function should be tested?

A patient presents with a radial nerve palsy immediately following a closed midshaft humerus fracture. Electromyography at 4 weeks is consistent with a Sunderland Class II injury (axonotmesis). Which of the following best describes the microscopic pathology of the nerve at the injury site?

A patient sustains a closed midshaft humerus fracture and presents with an immediate complete radial nerve palsy. If an electromyogram (EMG) is obtained, at what time point after injury are fibrillation potentials most likely to first appear?

Following a closed humerus fracture, a patient demonstrates a complete radial nerve palsy. An electromyogram (EMG) at 4 weeks shows fibrillation potentials in the brachioradialis, but imaging confirms preserved continuity of the endoneurial tubes. According to the Seddon classification, this is best classified as:

A 28-year-old pitcher presents with vague posterior shoulder pain and isolated atrophy of the teres minor. An MRI demonstrates a paralabral cyst in the quadrilateral space. Which of the following borders the quadrilateral space superiorly?

A 35-year-old man sustains a spiral fracture of the distal third of the humeral shaft. On presentation, he is unable to extend his wrist or fingers. Which structure is at highest risk of entrapment or injury in this specific fracture pattern?

A surgeon is utilizing the volar (Henry) approach to the proximal radius for open reduction and internal fixation of a radius fracture. Supination of the forearm during this approach protects which nerve by moving it radially and away from the surgical field?

During a volar (Henry) approach to the proximal radius, what structure marks the proximal edge of the superficial layer of the supinator muscle where the posterior interosseous nerve enters?

During a lateral approach to the humerus, the radial nerve is at risk as it pierces the lateral intermuscular septum. At approximately what distance proximal to the lateral epicondyle does this occur?

During a lateral approach to the fibula for ORIF of an ankle fracture, the superficial peroneal nerve must be protected. This nerve typically pierces the deep fascia to become subcutaneous at what distance proximal to the tip of the lateral malleolus?

The quadrangular space transmits the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery. Which muscle forms the inferior anatomical border of this space?

During the ilioinguinal approach to the acetabulum, severe hemorrhage can occur if the corona mortis is inadvertently transected. This vascular structure is an anastomosis between the: