Bone infection: prognosis of Pott paraplegia: 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 · Bone infection: prognosis of Pott paraplegia

Sample item

In a patient with spinal tuberculosis, paraplegia develops during the active phase of the disease, from abscess, granulation tissue and inflammatory oedema. What is the prognosis compared with late-onset paraplegia?

ABetter, as early-onset paraplegia usually recovers with anti-tubercular therapy and decompression if requiredBIdentical to late-onset paraplegiaCNever recoversDWorse, as it always needs amputation

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Better, as early-onset paraplegia usually recovers with anti-tubercular therapy and decompression if required

Early-onset paraplegia occurs during active disease and is caused by a reversible mechanical and inflammatory compression. It has a good chance of recovery with chemotherapy, with surgery for those who fail to improve. Late-onset paraplegia, which appears years after healing, is due to deformity, bony ridges or cord fibrosis, and carries a poorer prognosis.

Option by option

A. Better, as early-onset paraplegia usually recovers with anti-tubercular therapy and decompression if required (correct)
Correct. Early-onset paraplegia has a better prognosis.
B. Identical to late-onset paraplegia
Early and late-onset disease differ in cause and in prognosis.
C. Never recovers
Many patients recover after treatment of active disease.
D. Worse, as it always needs amputation
Amputation has no role in paraplegia.

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.

Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Better, as early-onset paraplegia usually recovers with anti-tubercular therapy and decompression if required. Early-onset paraplegia occurs during active disease and is caused by a reversible mechanical and inflammatory compression.

Why is "Identical to late-onset paraplegia" not the answer?

Early and late-onset disease differ in cause and in prognosis.

Why is "Never recovers" not the answer?

Many patients recover after treatment of active disease.

Why is "Worse, as it always needs amputation" not the answer?

Amputation has no role in paraplegia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone infection: prognosis of Pott paraplegia in Orthopaedics. It has a good chance of recovery with chemotherapy, with surgery for those who fail to improve. Late-onset paraplegia, which appears years after healing, is due to deformity, bony ridges or cord fibrosis, and carries a poorer prognosis.

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 Bone infection: prognosis of Pott paraplegia?

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.