Leprosy: trophic ulcer care: practice question

A Dermatology 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Leprosy: trophic ulcer care

Sample item

A man with leprosy has a painless, punched-out ulcer on the sole under the first metatarsal head. What is the key step to achieve healing?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Offloading pressure by rest or protective footwear along with wound care

Plantar trophic ulcers result from repeated unnoticed pressure on an insensate foot. Healing requires removing pressure with rest, cast or modified footwear, together with cleaning and treating infection. Patient education on self-care prevents recurrence.

Option by option

  • A. Long-term oral steroids

    Steroids do not heal pressure ulcers and may impair healing.

  • B. Application of topical anaesthetic

    The foot is already anaesthetic; anaesthetic does not treat the cause.

  • C. Offloading pressure by rest or protective footwear along with wound care (correct)

    Correct. Offloading and wound care heal plantar ulcers.

  • D. Early surgical amputation

    Amputation is a last resort.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, Offloading pressure by rest or protective footwear along with wound care. Plantar trophic ulcers result from repeated unnoticed pressure on an insensate foot.

Why is "Long-term oral steroids" not the answer?

Steroids do not heal pressure ulcers and may impair healing.

Why is "Application of topical anaesthetic" not the answer?

The foot is already anaesthetic; anaesthetic does not treat the cause.

Why is "Early surgical amputation" not the answer?

Amputation is a last resort.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Leprosy: trophic ulcer care in Dermatology. Healing requires removing pressure with rest, cast or modified footwear, together with cleaning and treating infection. Patient education on self-care prevents recurrence.

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 Leprosy: trophic ulcer care?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.