Paediatric: congenital dislocation of the knee: 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 · Paediatric: congenital dislocation of the knee

Sample item

A newborn has a knee that rests in hyperextension, with the tibia displaced anteriorly on the femur and a flexion arc limited by a tight quadriceps. Which statement about management is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Start with serial casting, and look for associated hip dysplasia and clubfoot

Congenital knee dislocation is a rare condition with anterior tibial displacement and quadriceps contracture. Early serial manipulation and casting often succeed in mild cases, with quadricepsplasty for failures. It is associated with hip dysplasia, clubfoot and syndromes such as arthrogryposis and Larsen syndrome.

Option by option

  • A. Immediately perform an above knee amputation

    Amputation is not an appropriate treatment.

  • B. Start with serial casting, and look for associated hip dysplasia and clubfoot (correct)

    Correct. Serial casting is the first treatment and associated anomalies must be sought.

  • C. Perform total knee replacement

    A knee replacement has no place in a newborn.

  • D. Wait until the child walks before treating

    Waiting makes correction harder.

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 B, Start with serial casting, and look for associated hip dysplasia and clubfoot. Congenital knee dislocation is a rare condition with anterior tibial displacement and quadriceps contracture.

Why is "Immediately perform an above knee amputation" not the answer?

Amputation is not an appropriate treatment.

Why is "Perform total knee replacement" not the answer?

A knee replacement has no place in a newborn.

Why is "Wait until the child walks before treating" not the answer?

Waiting makes correction harder.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric: congenital dislocation of the knee in Orthopaedics. Early serial manipulation and casting often succeed in mild cases, with quadricepsplasty for failures. It is associated with hip dysplasia, clubfoot and syndromes such as arthrogryposis and Larsen syndrome.

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 Paediatric: congenital dislocation of the knee?

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.