1. General Principles & Basic Science MCQs

Which of the following bone graft substitutes relies strictly on osteoinduction for its contribution to bone healing?

During the pathogenesis of a prosthetic joint infection, which phase of biofilm formation is characterized by the down-regulation of bacterial metabolic activity, rendering the organisms highly resistant to systemic antibiotics?

A 6-year-old boy sustains a completely displaced posteromedial supracondylar humerus fracture. Which nerve is at the highest risk of injury secondary to this specific direction of fracture displacement?

During an anterior intrapelvic approach (ilioinguinal or modified Stoppa) for an acetabular fracture, significant hemorrhage occurs while dissecting over the posterior aspect of the superior pubic ramus. The injured vessel typically represents an anastomosis between which two vascular systems?

A patient suffers from quadrilateral space syndrome, leading to localized shoulder weakness and paresthesia. Which nerve and vessel pass through this specific anatomic space?

During a lateral approach to the distal humerus, the radial nerve is identified. At what approximate landmark does the radial nerve pierce the lateral intermuscular septum to pass from the posterior to the anterior compartment of the arm?

The posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) is at risk during a volar approach (Henry) to the proximal radius. Through which specific structure does the PIN pass as it enters the posterior compartment of the forearm?

The femoral nerve is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus. It descends through the pelvis to enter the anterior thigh. What is its anatomical relationship to the psoas major muscle within the retroperitoneum?

The superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) of the knee is the primary restraint to valgus stress. Where is its precise distal anatomic insertion on the tibia?

A surgeon is performing a posterolateral approach to the distal tibia for a pilon fracture. What is the internervous plane utilized in this approach?

During the ilioinguinal approach for an acetabular fracture, the surgeon develops the middle window. Which of the following structures forms the medial border of this middle window?

A 45-year-old male sustains a midshaft humerus fracture and is treated with open reduction and internal fixation via an anterolateral approach. Which of the following describes the correct internervous plane for the distal extent of this approach?

Which of the following muscles of the lower extremity is exclusively innervated by the common peroneal division of the sciatic nerve?

A patient is undergoing a volar (Henry) approach to the forearm for fixation of a proximal radial shaft fracture. In the proximal third of the forearm, the internervous plane is between which of the following two muscles?

During a surgical approach to the hip via the direct lateral (Hardinge) approach, the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis are split. To avoid iatrogenic denervation of the anterior portion of the abductors, the proximal split in the gluteus medius must not extend more than how many centimeters proximal to the tip of the greater trochanter?

A 28-year-old male sustains a severe knee dislocation resulting in a popliteal artery occlusion. The popliteal artery is at high risk of stretch injury due to firm proximal and distal tethering points. Which anatomical structure forms the distal tethering point?

A surgeon is evaluating a patient with axillary nerve entrapment. Which of the following neurovascular structures pass together through the quadrangular space of the shoulder?

The deep branch of the radial nerve (posterior interosseous nerve) is at risk during surgical approaches to the proximal radius. Underneath which anatomical structure does the posterior interosseous nerve typically enter the supinator muscle?

An orthopaedic surgeon is using the posterior (Kocher-Langenbeck) approach to the acetabulum. The sciatic nerve must be carefully identified and protected. In what percentage of the general population does the common peroneal division of the sciatic nerve pierce the piriformis muscle (Beaton and Anson type B)?

During a posteromedial approach to the knee for repair of a medial meniscus root tear, the fascia over the pes anserinus is incised. Which nerve is most at risk of injury when dissecting directly around the sartorius and gracilis tendons?