1. General Principles & Basic Science MCQs

A 42-year-old man is undergoing an open subpectoral biceps tenodesis. The surgeon makes an incision in the axillary fold and exposes the intertubercular groove. Which nerve is most at risk of injury during medial retraction of the conjoint tendon in this approach?

During a deltopectoral approach for a proximal humerus fracture, the axillary nerve must be protected. Which of the following describes its anatomical course relative to the shoulder joint?

Following an acute anterior shoulder dislocation, a 24-year-old male is unable to actively elevate his arm and reports numbness over the lateral aspect of his shoulder. Which nerve is most likely injured?

Recent quantitative anatomic studies have demonstrated that the predominant arterial blood supply to the humeral head is derived from which of the following vessels?

A 30-year-old male powerlifter feels a "pop" in his anterior axilla while bench pressing. Examination reveals an asymmetric anterior axillary fold and weakness in internal rotation. MRI confirms a complete avulsion of the pectoralis major tendon from the humerus. Which of the following statements regarding the relevant anatomy and repair is TRUE?

A 28-year-old man sustains an anterior shoulder dislocation with a concomitant greater tuberosity fracture. Following closed reduction, the patient is unable to actively abduct the shoulder and has diminished sensation over the lateral aspect of the shoulder. Injury to which of the following nerves is most likely?

A 30-year-old male weightlifter felt a "pop" in his anterior axilla while performing a heavy bench press. Exam shows loss of the normal anterior axillary fold contour. When considering the relevant surgical anatomy for repair, the sternal head of the pectoralis major tendon normally inserts in what position relative to the clavicular head?

A 28-year-old competitive weightlifter experiences a tearing sensation in his anterior chest wall during a heavy bench press. Examination reveals loss of the anterior axillary fold and weakness in internal rotation. In a typical pectoralis major rupture, which head of the muscle tears most commonly?

A 19-year-old male sustains a posterior sternoclavicular dislocation during a rugby match. He presents to the ER with mild dyspnea and dysphagia. What is the most critical next step in management?

During an open repair of a massive, retracted subscapularis tendon tear, extensive medial mobilization of the muscle belly is required. Which neural structure is at greatest risk of iatrogenic injury during this mobilization?

Following a standard arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, by which histological mechanism does the tendon primarily heal to the greater tuberosity?

A 50-year-old male arrives in the emergency department with an acute anterior shoulder dislocation after a fall. Following successful closed reduction, he reports a patch of numbness over the lateral aspect of his shoulder and exhibits weakness when attempting to actively abduct the arm. Which nerve is most commonly injured in this injury pattern?

During a Latarjet procedure, the coracoid process is osteotomized and transferred to the anterior glenoid. Which of the following nerves is at greatest risk of iatrogenic injury during the coracoid mobilization and transfer?

A 35-year-old overhead athlete presents with posterior shoulder pain and isolated weakness of the deltoid and teres minor. An MRI demonstrates isolated muscular atrophy and localized vascular compression in the posterior shoulder. This syndrome is caused by compression of structures within boundaries that include all of the following EXCEPT:

A 28-year-old weightlifter feels a sudden 'pop' in his axilla while performing a heavy bench press. He presents with extensive ecchymosis and loss of the anterior axillary fold. If a complete rupture of the pectoralis major occurred, which portion is typically the first to fail due to maximal eccentric stretch?

The Latarjet procedure involves the transfer of the coracoid process with the attached conjoint tendon to the anterior glenoid neck. Which nerve is most at risk during the transfer and retraction of the conjoint tendon?

Which of the following manufacturing processes is most effective at reducing the wear rate of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) while minimizing the risk of long-term in vivo oxidation?

Which of the following molecules acts as an endogenous soluble decoy receptor to inhibit osteoclastogenesis by binding to RANK Ligand (RANKL)?

A dynamic splint is applied to a patient's elbow to treat a flexion contracture. Over time, the tension in the elastic band of the splint decreases despite the elbow remaining locked in the exact same position. This viscoelastic phenomenon is best described as:

The combination of a titanium femoral stem and a cobalt-chromium femoral head in total hip arthroplasty relies on a passivation layer to resist corrosion. If this oxide layer is repeatedly breached by micromotion at the head-neck junction, the resulting degradation is most accurately termed: