ABOS Part 1 Shoulder & Elbow MCQs - Advanced Board Prep

Question 1

A 72-year-old female undergoes a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) utilizing a standard Grammont-style prosthesis for the treatment of severe rotator cuff tear arthropathy. Postoperatively, she demonstrates excellent active forward elevation

Accepted Answer

Medialization of the center of rotation decreasing the tension and moment arm of the posterior rotator cuff.

Question 2

A 6-year-old boy falls from the monkey bars and sustains an extension-type supracondylar humerus fracture. Radiographs in the emergency department reveal a Gartland Type III fracture with posterolateral displacement of the distal fragment. Based on t

Accepted Answer

Anterior interosseous nerve (AIN)

Question 3

A 34-year-old female presents with recurrent elbow clicking and a sensation of the elbow "giving out" when she pushes herself up from a chair. She has a history of a prior elbow dislocation treated non-operatively 2 years ago. Which of the following

Accepted Answer

Lateral pivot-shift test of the elbow

Question 4

A 22-year-old collegiate rugby player is undergoing an open Latarjet procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder instability associated with 25% glenoid bone loss. During the procedure, the coracoid process is osteotomized and transferred to the anteri

Accepted Answer

Subscapularis muscle

Question 5

A 65-year-old female sustains a displaced 4-part proximal humerus fracture. When evaluating the initial radiographs to determine the risk of subsequent avascular necrosis (AVN) of the humeral head, which of the following findings (Hertel's criteria)

Accepted Answer

Medial hinge disruption greater than 2 mm

Question 6

A 42-year-old male undergoes a two-incision (Boyd-Anderson) surgical repair of a chronic distal biceps tendon rupture. Postoperatively, he demonstrates an inability to actively extend his thumb and fingers at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. How

Accepted Answer

Posterior interosseous nerve (PIN)

Question 7

A 28-year-old mountain biker sustains a Type III acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation. The coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments are completely ruptured. Regarding the native anatomy and biomechanics of the CC ligaments, which of the following statement

Accepted Answer

The conoid ligament is medial to the trapezoid and is the primary restraint to superior translation of the clavicle.

Question 8

A 14-year-old male gymnast presents with acute medial elbow pain after a dismount. Radiographs reveal a displaced medial epicondyle fracture. The elbow joint is concentrically reduced. Which of the following is considered an absolute indication for o

Accepted Answer

Incarceration of the fracture fragment within the joint

Question 9

A 50-year-old female with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes presents with severe shoulder stiffness and pain, consistent with the "freezing" stage of adhesive capsulitis. If a biopsy of her glenohumeral joint capsule were performed, histological anal

Accepted Answer

Fibroblasts and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β)

Question 10

A 35-year-old female falls on an outstretched hand and sustains a shear fracture of the articular surface of the capitellum. Radiographs and CT imaging reveal that the fracture fragment consists almost entirely of articular cartilage with very little

Accepted Answer

Type II (Kocher-Lorenz)

AAOS & ABOS Upper Extremity MCQs (Set 4): Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, Hand & Nerve Review | 2025-2026 Boards

ABOS Part 1 Shoulder & Elbow MCQs - Advanced Board Prep