Paediatric orthopaedics: radial club hand: 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 orthopaedics: radial club hand

Sample item

A newborn has a radial club hand with absent radius. Which associated screening is most important before any surgery is planned?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Full blood count, echocardiography and renal ultrasound

Radial longitudinal deficiency is linked with syndromes such as thrombocytopenia absent radius, Fanconi anaemia, VACTERL and Holt-Oram syndrome. Blood counts detect thrombocytopenia or marrow failure, echocardiography detects cardiac defects, and renal ultrasound detects renal anomalies. Management of the hand follows once these are assessed.

Option by option

  • A. Lumbar puncture

    Lumbar puncture has no role in the work-up.

  • B. Full blood count, echocardiography and renal ultrasound (correct)

    Correct. Haematological, cardiac and renal screening is required.

  • C. Skull radiograph only

    A skull radiograph does not address the associated systemic anomalies.

  • D. Thyroid function tests only

    Thyroid function is not specifically linked to radial deficiency.

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, Full blood count, echocardiography and renal ultrasound. Radial longitudinal deficiency is linked with syndromes such as thrombocytopenia absent radius, Fanconi anaemia, VACTERL and Holt-Oram syndrome.

Why is "Lumbar puncture" not the answer?

Lumbar puncture has no role in the work-up.

Why is "Skull radiograph only" not the answer?

A skull radiograph does not address the associated systemic anomalies.

Why is "Thyroid function tests only" not the answer?

Thyroid function is not specifically linked to radial deficiency.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric orthopaedics: radial club hand in Orthopaedics. Blood counts detect thrombocytopenia or marrow failure, echocardiography detects cardiac defects, and renal ultrasound detects renal anomalies. Management of the hand follows once these are assessed.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 orthopaedics: radial club hand?

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.