Comprehensive 100-Question Exam
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Question 1
When treating thoracic disk herniations, which of the following surgical approaches has the highest reported rate of neurologic complications?
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Question 2High Yield
What vessel is marked with an asterisk in Figure 44?

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Question 3
Figures 27a and 27b show the radiographs of a 32-year-old woman who was involved in a high-speed motor vehicle accident. She is neurologically intact. After stabilization and assessment, treatment should consist of

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Question 4
A 52-year-old woman who underwent cheilectomy 1 year ago for hallux rigidus now reports continued pain in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. She did not have any incision healing problems, and has not had any fevers, erythema, or drainage. Which of the following procedures will provide the best combination of pain relief and function?

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Question 5
A 5-year-old boy has had pain in the right foot for the past month. Examination reveals tenderness and mild swelling in the region of the tarsal navicular. Radiographs are shown in Figure 30. Management should consist of

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Question 6
A 20-year-old man has a large soft-tissue mass behind his knee. MRI scans are shown in Figures 10a through 10c. Figure 10d shows a clinical photograph of his chest. The patient's condition is most likely a result of a defect in what gene?

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Question 7
A 55-year-old patient is seeking a surgical consultation for a painful flatfoot deformity that has failed to respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, shoe and activity modifications, and orthoses. The patient is of medium build, a nonsmoker, and has no history of diabetes mellitus. Radiographs are shown in Figures 43a through 43c. Based on these findings, treatment should consist of

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Question 8
An acetabular reinforcement cage is most often indicated for which of the following conditions?
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Question 9
Bioabsorbable polymers are used in a wide range of orthopaedic devices, including anchors, staples, pins, plates, and screws. What is the primary drawback for bioabsorbable implants?
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Question 10
A professional pitcher reports pain localized to the medial aspect of his throwing elbow. History reveals that he was pitching in a playoff game and heard and felt a pop in his elbow. MRI reveals a complete ulnar-sided avulsion of the medial collateral ligament (MCL). Examination reveals valgus instability and ulnar nerve involvement. What recommendations should be made based on the patient's desire to return to sport?
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Question 11
In hip arthroplasty, the location of the medial femoral circumflex artery is best described as

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Question 12
With a full-thickness articular cartilage injury, the body's healing response produces cartilage mainly composed of what type of collagen?
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Question 13
Figure 2 shows the AP radiograph of an 18-year-old woman with progressive and severe right hip pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs no longer control her pain. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

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Question 14
An otherwise healthy 57-year-old man has persistent, severe hip pain after undergoing total hip arthroplasty 3 months ago. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

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Question 15
A 22-year-old woman reports a 4-year history of worsening low back and left lower extremity pain following a motor vehicle accident. Management consisting of physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and interventional pain management, including sacroiliac joint injections and epidural steroid injections, has failed to provide relief. A sagittal T2-weighted MRI scan is shown in Figure 8. No nerve root compression is seen on axial images. She is currently working and lives with her fiancé. She smokes half a pack of cigarettes per day and reports depression on her health history. She is being maintained on narcotic analgesics and is having increasing difficulty performing her activities of daily living secondary to pain. What is the most appropriate management at this time?

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Question 16
A 31-year-old woman has a history of a painful ankle that has failed to respond to conservative management. She has associated night pain that is relieved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. MRI and technetium Tc 99m scans are consistent with an osteoid osteoma. Management should now consist of
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Question 17
During a retroperitoneal approach to the L4-5 disk, what structure must be ligated to safely mobilize the common iliac vessels toward the midline from laterally and gain exposure?

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Question 18
A 35-year-old woman who is training for a triathlon has had a 2-month history of heel pain with weight bearing and is unable to run. History reveals that she is amenorrheic. Examination reveals that she is thin and has pain over the heel that is exacerbated with medial and lateral compression. Range of motion and motor and sensory function are normal. Radiographs are normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Question 19
A senior resident is scheduled to perform a posterior medial release on a 10-month-old infant who has a congenital clubfoot deformity. Informed consent is obtained for the procedure. The supervising surgeon is obligated to give the parents what information?

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Question 20
A 5-year-old boy has had midfoot pain with activity for the past 3 months. He has no pain at rest. Radiographs are shown in Figures 29a and 29b. Management should consist of

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Question 21
A 52-year-old woman slips in her bathroom and strikes her right hand on a cabinet. She notes swelling, ecchymosis, and pain with attempted motion. There are no open wounds. Radiographs are shown in Figures 5a through 5c. What is the most appropriate treatment?

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Question 22
When performing a gastrocnemius recession, what structure should be protected?
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Question 23
The mother of an otherwise healthy 1-month-old infant reports that he is not moving his left leg after falling from his high chair 2 days ago. He has a temperature of 99.5 degrees F (37.5 degrees C). Examination reveals that the left thigh is moderately tender to palpation. Because the infant is apprehensive, range of motion is difficult to quantify, but appears to be normal at the hips and ankles. Range of motion of the left knee is approximately 25 degrees to 90 degrees. A radiograph of the leg is shown in Figure 27. Management should consist of

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Question 24
An 81-year-old man with severe low back pain reports right extensor hallucis longus and anterior tibialis weakness and difficulty urinating over the past 24 hours. He has a temperature of 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C). MRI scans are shown in Figures 31a and 31b. Management should consist of

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Question 25
What are the most likely symptoms and examination findings related to the mass in zone 2 of Guyon's canal seen in Figure 17?

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Question 26
In a locking plate screw construct, axial forces are borne by which of the following?
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Question 27
A 17-year-old boy who fell on a pitchfork in a barn 1 day ago now has a painful, swollen forearm. Examination reveals erythema, exquisite tenderness, and crepitus to palpation of the forearm. He has a pulse rate of 110/min and a blood pressure of 80/60 mm Hg. Radiographs show subcutaneous air and no fractures. Gram stain of wound drainage reveals a gram-positive bacillus. The next most appropriate step in management should consist of
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Question 28
A 35-year-old man sustained a 10% compression fracture of the C5 vertebra in a diving accident. Radiographs show good alignment, and examination reveals no neurologic compromise. An MRI scan reveals no significant soft-tissue disruption posteriorly. Management should consist of
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Question 29
Which of the following factors is most critical to the success of a meniscal allograft transplantation?
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Question 30
You are asked to evaluate the patient whose current clinical photographs are shown in Figures 46a and 46b following aortic valve replacement 9 days ago. He is currently taking anticoagulation medication. He has no systemic signs of sepsis. What is the best management?

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Question 31
Which of the following design features of a femoral component used in a total knee arthroplasty best minimizes the patellar component contact stresses?
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Question 32
A 25-year-old construction worker lands on his outstretched hand in a fall. The position of his wrist at the time of impact causes a force that leads to hyperextension, ulnar deviation, and intercarpal supination. Radiographs are shown in Figures 48a and 48b. Management should consist of

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Question 33
A 14-year-old girl reports a 3-week history of anterior thigh pain and a palpable mass after sustaining a soccer-related injury. Examination reveals a tender, firm mass in the midportion of the rectus femoris. MRI scans are shown in Figures 39a through 39c. What is the most appropriate management?

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Question 34
Which of the following is considered the best method for the prevention of wrong-site surgery?
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Question 35
During a left-sided transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion at the L4-5 level, the surgeon notes a significant amount of bleeding that cannot be controlled while using a pituitary rongeur. What anatomic structure has been injured?
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Question 36
A 42-year-old man has a symptomatic flatfoot deformity and walks with a slight limp after falling off a scaffold 9 months ago. He also reports that he has had difficulty returning to work. Orthotics have failed to provide relief. Current radiographs are shown in Figures 19a and 19b. To relieve his pain and return the patient to work, treatment should consist of

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Question 37
The posterior circumflex artery provides blood supply to what portion of the proximal humerus?

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Question 38
A 36-year-old professional baseball player reports the acute onset of severe right groin pain while attempting to avoid being hit by a baseball while at bat. Examination reveals tenderness, soft-tissue swelling, and ecchymosis in the right groin extending over the medial thigh. MRI scans are shown in Figures 8a and 8b. Management should consist of

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Question 39
Which of the following ligaments is the primary static restraint against inferior translation of the arm when the shoulder is in 0 degrees of abduction?
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Question 40
Which of the following is considered the most accurate test to determine the amount of limb-length discrepancy in a patient with a knee flexion contracture of 35 degrees?
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Question 41
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
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Question 42
Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are associated with

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Question 43
Figures 3a through 3c show the radiographs and bone scan of a patient who reports increasing pain associated with activity for the past several months. Laboratory studies show an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 14 mm/h and a C-reactive protein level of 0.4. Aspiration is negative for infection. Management should consist of

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Question 44
A 55-year-old woman fell and sustained an elbow dislocation with a coronoid fracture and a radial head fracture. The elbow is reduced and splinted. What is the most common early complication?

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Question 45
When performing knee arthroplasty, which of the following procedures provides the most consistent fixation for the tibial component?

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Question 46
Figures 22a and 22b show the radiograph and sagittal MRI scan of the upper cervical spine of a 62-year-old woman who has had a long history of rheumatoid arthritis. Following hospitalization and skeletal traction, her symptoms improve significantly, her neurologic examination returns to normal, and repeat radiographs show a normal occiput and C1-C2 relationship. Treatment should now include

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Question 47
Fully dense alumina and zirconia materials have been used as bearing materials in hip arthroplasty to provide greater wear resistance than polished metallic surfaces. Although both have shown reduced wear clinically, what concerns continue to exist about the use of zirconia?
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Question 48
Because the patient shown in Figure 27 can no longer fit in shoes, treatment of the deformity should consist of

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Question 49
What is the most common clinical presentation of a patient with a malignant bone tumor?

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Question 50
A 50-year-old man with no history of trauma reports new-onset back pain after doing some yard work the previous day. He reports pain radiating down his leg posteriorly and into the first dorsal web space of his foot. MRI scans are shown in Figures 3a through 3c. What nerve root is affected?

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Question 51
Chronic anterior donor site pain following the harvest of autologous iliac crest bone graft for use during anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion is reported by approximately what percent of patients?
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Question 52
What is the peak period of onset in children with pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?

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Question 53
A 51-year-old woman is seen for evaluation of chronic supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon tears. Three years ago, in an attempted repair the surgeon was unable to repair the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon tears. Currently she has a marked amount of pain, reduced range of motion, and weakness. Examination reveals anterosuperior escape. Radiographs show no signs of arthritic changes. You are considering a latissimus dorsi tendon transfer. During the discussion, you mention that
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Question 54
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?

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Question 55
A 28-year-old woman has had pain in her hand and mild swelling of the little finger for the past 2 months. A radiograph is shown in Figure 41a, and the biopsy specimen is shown in Figures 41b and 41c. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Question 56
Figure 16 shows the radiograph of a 75-year-old man who has progressive groin pain and a limp following total hip replacement. At revision surgery, the anterior and posterior columns of the acetabulum are noted to be intact. The optimal surgical technique for acetabular component reconstruction is a

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Question 57
The failure of the acetabular component shown in Figure 15 is most likely the result of the use of a 32-mm head and

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Question 58
A 55-year-old woman with a 15-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus has had left shoulder pain for the past 3 months. She reports that the pain has grown progressively worse over the past few months, and her shoulder function is severely limited. She is presently being treated with azathioprine and has used corticosteroids in the past. AP and axillary radiographs are shown in Figures 19a and 19b, and MRI scans are shown in Figures 19c and 19d. Which of the following forms of management will yield the most predictable pain relief and return of shoulder function?

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Question 59
A 55-year-old woman who underwent a left total hip arthroplasty 8 months ago using a modified Hardinger approach reports a persistent painless limp. Examination reveals that when she is not using a cane, she lurches to the left during weight bearing on the left lower extremity. An AP radiograph is shown in Figure 29. Which of the following hip muscle groups should be strengthened to improve the gait abnormality?

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Question 60
What region of the thoracic curve is most dangerous for pedicle screw insertion while performing a posterior fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?
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Question 61
A 30-year-old man has pain in the left arm after a motor vehicle accident. His neurovascular examination is intact, and radiographs are shown in Figures 25a and 25b. What is the best course of management?

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Question 62
A 20-year-old football player sustains a dorsiflexion external rotation injury to his right ankle. During sideline evaluation, which of the following findings best indicates a syndesmosis ankle sprain without diastasis?
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Question 63
A 16-year-old boy has had thigh pain for the past several months. He denies any history of trauma. Examination reveals a large, deeply fixed, soft-tissue mass in the thigh. Laboratory results show an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and leukocytosis. A plain radiograph and MRI scan are shown in Figures 1a and 1b. Biopsy specimens are shown in Figures 1c and 1d. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Question 64
Figures 42a through 42c show the clinical photographs and radiograph of a patient with diabetes mellitus who lives independently. The patient was admitted to the hospital late yesterday afternoon with clinical signs of sepsis. Parenteral antibiotic therapy resolved the sepsis, and blood glucose levels are now well controlled. The patient has no palpable pulses. The ankle-brachial index is 0.70. Laboratory studies show a WBC count of 8,500/mm3, a serum albumin of 1.9 g/dL, and a total lymphocyte count of 1,500/mm3. What treatment has the best potential to optimize his survival and independence?

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Question 65
Which of the following findings is a relative contraindication to primary total knee arthroplasty?
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Question 66
To adequately expose the volar plate of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger, which of following pulleys is typically incised?

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Question 67
The strongest biomechanical construct for open reduction and internal fixation of a talar neck fracture uses what interval and entry point?
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Question 68
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 69
The dorsal digital cutaneous nerve of the great toe shown in Figure 8 is a branch of what nerve?

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Question 70
Factors contributing to an increased risk of hip fracture include reduced bone mineral density of the femoral neck, cognitive status of the individual, and
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Question 71
Which of the following types of iliac osteotomy provides the greatest potential for increased coverage?
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Question 72
Figures 38a and 38b show the CT scans of a 64-year-old woman. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Question 73
Figure 11 shows the radiograph of a 3-year-old girl who sustained a proximal radius injury. Appropriate initial management should include

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Question 74
What structure is most at risk with anterior penetration of C1 lateral mass screws?
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Question 75
A 59-year-old construction worker who is right-hand dominant has had right shoulder pain for the past 9 months with no history of injury. Nonsurgical management consisting of two cortisone injections, physical therapy for 3 months, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has failed to provide lasting relief. Examination reveals tenderness over the acromioclavicular (AC) joint and over the subacromial bursa. He has positive Neer and Hawkins impingement signs and AC joint pain with adduction of the shoulder. Radiographs are shown in Figures 36a and 36b. An MRI scan reveals an intact rotator cuff. Management should now consist of

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Question 76
A 25-year-old student sustains the injury shown in Figures 13a through 13c after falling off a curb. Initial management should consist of

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Question 77
What is the treatment of choice for the injury shown in Figures 20a through 20c?

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Question 78
A 70-year-old man underwent primary total knee arthroplasty 3 months ago. Figures 7a and 7b show the radiograph and clinical photograph following incision and drainage of the wound 1 week ago. Aspiration of the joint reveals methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. What is the next most appropriate step in management?

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Question 79
A 61-year-old man reports right hip pain and limited motion after undergoing total hip arthroplasty for posttraumatic arthritis 1 year ago. Figure 6 shows an AP radiograph of the pelvis. To improve motion and relieve pain, management should consist of

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Question 80
A 28-year-old woman who is training for the New York Marathon reports pain in the posteromedial aspect of her right ankle. Examination reveals tenderness just posterior to the medial malleolus. Radiographs are normal. An MRI scan is shown in Figure 3. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Question 81
The mother of a 26-month-old boy reports that he has been unwilling to bear weight on his left lower extremity since he awoke this morning. She denies any history of trauma. He has a temperature of 99.4 degrees F (37.4 degrees C), and examination reveals that abduction of the left hip is limited to 30 degrees. Laboratory studies show a WBC of 11,000/mm3 and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 22 mm/h. A radiograph of the pelvis is shown in Figure 13. Management should consist of

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Question 82
A 40-year-old laborer sustains the injury shown in the radiograph and CT scan in Figures 56a and 56b. What is the most common complication associated with surgical intervention?

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Question 83
Thoracic disk herniations are most frequently found in what area of the spine?
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Question 84
During primary total knee arthroplasty, what is the maximum distance the joint line can be raised or lowered before poor motion, joint instability, and increased chance of revision occur?

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Question 85
Polyethylene wear of the bearing surface has been recognized as a mode of failure in total knee arthroplasty; therefore, many patients are offered polyethylene exchange. In terms of success rates, this surgical procedure has been reported to have a
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Question 86
Cementation technique has a definite influence on the long-term survival of cemented femoral components. Both clinical and autopsy studies support the use of a cement mantle with a thickness of how many millimeters?

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Question 87
What is the reported failure rate for surgical treatment of a Morton's neuroma?

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Question 88
Figures 63a and 63b show the radiographs of an 11-year-old girl who sustained a twisting injury of the knee playing soccer. She is now asymptomatic. What is the appropriate treatment of the lesion?

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Question 89
The space available for the cord is an important determinant in neurologic recovery. Recent analysis suggests that the most reliable radiographic predictor for neurologic recovery after surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and paralysis is a preoperative

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Question 90
When comparing the failure load of an evenly tensioned four-stranded hamstring tendon anterior cruciate ligament autograft to a 10-mm bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft, the hamstring graft will fail at a tension
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Question 91
A 17-year-old patient sustained a closed calcaneal fracture when he jumped off of a roof 2 years ago, and he underwent nonsurgical management at the time of injury. The patient now reports lateral hindfoot pain that is worse with weight-bearing activities. Anti-inflammatory drugs and orthoses have failed to provide relief. Coronal and sagittal CT scans are shown in Figures 36a and 36b. What is the best course of action?

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Question 92
A 53-year-old man has a 4- x 5-cm high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma in the midthigh. As part of the staging evaluation, regional nodes should be assessed by

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Question 93
The parents of a 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome are seeking sports clearance for participation in the high jump at the Special Olympics. He is asymptomatic, and the neurologic examination is normal. The hips and patellae are clinically stable. Radiographs of the cervical spine in flexion and extension show a maximum atlanto-dens interval (ADI) of 6 mm. Based on these findings, what recommendation should be made?
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Question 94
Which of the following findings is considered the strongest indication for surgical treatment of a mallet fracture of the distal phalanx?
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Question 95
What is the most frequent complication of both lateral closing wedge high tibial osteotomy and medial opening wedge osteotomy?

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Question 96
A 36-year-old skier sustains a grade III posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear. Where will increased contact pressures develop over time?
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Question 97
A 47-year-old woman falls and sustains a direct blow to her middle finger. She notes pain and swelling and is unable to move the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) or distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. Radiographs are shown in Figures 8a through 8c. Proper management should consist of

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Question 98
A 10-year-old girl was thrown over the handlebars of her bicycle and landed directly on her left shoulder. She was treated with a figure-of-8 strap and analgesics. Follow-up examination 2 weeks later reveals that the lateral end of the clavicle is superiorly dislocated relative to the acromion. A radiograph of the shoulder shows calcification lateral to the coracoid process at the level of the acromion, and the clavicle is superiorly displaced. Management should consist of
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Question 99
What is the most important sign of impending modulation with rapid progression of a spinal deformity in neurofibromatosis?
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Question 100
A 25-year-old man reports wrist pain following a motorcycle accident. Examination reveals minimal swelling, slightly limited active range of motion, and point tenderness in the snuff box region. AP and oblique radiographs are shown in Figures 40a and 40b. Management should consist of

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