Paediatric orthopaedics: Salter-Harris type V injury: 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: Salter-Harris type V injury

Sample item

A child falls and lands on the leg with an axial crush force. Early radiographs of the knee look normal. Eight months later there is leg shortening and angulation. Which physeal injury explains this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Salter-Harris type V

Type V is a compression crush injury of the physis, often with normal early films, and is recognised retrospectively when growth arrest appears. It has the worst prognosis for growth. Types I and II rarely disturb growth.

Option by option

  • A. Salter-Harris type III

    Type III is intra-articular through the epiphysis and is visible on films.

  • B. Salter-Harris type V (correct)

    Correct. A crush of the physis with delayed growth arrest is type V.

  • C. Salter-Harris type II

    Type II has a metaphyseal fragment and usually heals well.

  • D. Salter-Harris type I

    Type I is a transphyseal separation with usually good growth.

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, Salter-Harris type V. Type V is a compression crush injury of the physis, often with normal early films, and is recognised retrospectively when growth arrest appears.

Why is "Salter-Harris type III" not the answer?

Type III is intra-articular through the epiphysis and is visible on films.

Why is "Salter-Harris type II" not the answer?

Type II has a metaphyseal fragment and usually heals well.

Why is "Salter-Harris type I" not the answer?

Type I is a transphyseal separation with usually good growth.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric orthopaedics: Salter-Harris type V injury in Orthopaedics. It has the worst prognosis for growth. Types I and II rarely disturb growth.

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 orthopaedics: Salter-Harris type V injury?

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.