Nerve injuries: superficial peroneal nerve: practice question

A Orthopaedics 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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Orthopaedics · Nerve injuries: superficial peroneal nerve

Sample item

After a fibular shaft fracture, a patient can dorsiflex the ankle but cannot evert the foot and has numbness over the dorsum of the foot, sparing the first web space. Which nerve is injured?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Superficial peroneal nerve

The superficial peroneal nerve supplies peroneus longus and brevis, which evert the foot, and gives sensation to most of the dorsum of the foot. Ankle dorsiflexion is spared because tibialis anterior is supplied by the deep peroneal nerve. The deep nerve supplies the first web space.

Option by option

  • A. Superficial peroneal nerve (correct)

    Correct. Weak eversion with dorsal foot numbness and preserved dorsiflexion indicates the superficial peroneal nerve.

  • B. Sural nerve

    The sural nerve is purely sensory over the lateral foot.

  • C. Deep peroneal nerve

    Deep peroneal injury causes weak dorsiflexion and loss of sensation in the first web space.

  • D. Tibial nerve

    Tibial nerve injury causes loss of plantarflexion and plantar sensation.

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 Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Superficial peroneal nerve. The superficial peroneal nerve supplies peroneus longus and brevis, which evert the foot, and gives sensation to most of the dorsum of the foot.

Why is "Sural nerve" not the answer?

The sural nerve is purely sensory over the lateral foot.

Why is "Deep peroneal nerve" not the answer?

Deep peroneal injury causes weak dorsiflexion and loss of sensation in the first web space.

Why is "Tibial nerve" not the answer?

Tibial nerve injury causes loss of plantarflexion and plantar sensation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nerve injuries: superficial peroneal nerve in Orthopaedics. Ankle dorsiflexion is spared because tibialis anterior is supplied by the deep peroneal nerve. The deep nerve supplies the first web space.

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 Nerve injuries: superficial peroneal nerve?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics 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.