Perioperative care: hand infections: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Perioperative care: hand infections

Sample item

A man has a swollen flexed finger with fusiform swelling and severe pain on passive extension along the flexor sheath. Which diagnosis and urgent treatment?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (Kanavel signs); urgent drainage with antibiotics

Kanavel signs are flexed posture, fusiform swelling, tenderness along the flexor sheath and pain on passive extension. Untreated, it spreads into deep spaces and destroys tendon function, so early antibiotics and surgical irrigation are needed. A felon is a pulp space infection and paronychia affects the nail fold.

Option by option

  • A. Dupuytren contracture; fasciectomy

    Dupuytren is painless contracture.

  • B. Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (Kanavel signs); urgent drainage with antibiotics (correct)

    Correct. Kanavel signs indicate flexor sheath infection.

  • C. Felon; observation

    Felon needs drainage and is a pulp abscess.

  • D. Paronychia; warm soaks

    Paronychia is limited to the nail fold.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (Kanavel signs); urgent drainage with antibiotics. Kanavel signs are flexed posture, fusiform swelling, tenderness along the flexor sheath and pain on passive extension.

Why is "Dupuytren contracture; fasciectomy" not the answer?

Dupuytren is painless contracture.

Why is "Felon; observation" not the answer?

Felon needs drainage and is a pulp abscess.

Why is "Paronychia; warm soaks" not the answer?

Paronychia is limited to the nail fold.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Perioperative care: hand infections in General Surgery. Untreated, it spreads into deep spaces and destroys tendon function, so early antibiotics and surgical irrigation are needed. A felon is a pulp space infection and paronychia affects the nail fold.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Perioperative care: hand infections?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.