Spine: ankylosing spondylitis: 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 · Spine: ankylosing spondylitis

Sample item

A young adult has inflammatory back pain that improves with exercise, morning stiffness, and alternating buttock pain. Which diagnosis is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is an axial spondyloarthritis causing inflammatory back pain, sacroiliac involvement, and stiffness that improves with activity. Extra-articular features can include uveitis.

Option by option

  • A. Mechanical low back pain

    Mechanical pain usually worsens with activity and improves with rest.

  • B. Osteoarthritis of the hip

    Hip osteoarthritis causes groin pain and mechanical limitation.

  • C. Fibromyalgia

    Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain without this sacroiliac inflammatory pattern.

  • D. Ankylosing spondylitis (correct)

    Correct. Exercise-responsive inflammatory back pain is characteristic.

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 Orthopaedics questions

Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is D, Ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is an axial spondyloarthritis causing inflammatory back pain, sacroiliac involvement, and stiffness that improves with activity.

Why is "Mechanical low back pain" not the answer?

Mechanical pain usually worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Why is "Osteoarthritis of the hip" not the answer?

Hip osteoarthritis causes groin pain and mechanical limitation.

Why is "Fibromyalgia" not the answer?

Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain without this sacroiliac inflammatory pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Spine: ankylosing spondylitis in Orthopaedics. Extra-articular features can include uveitis.

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 Spine: ankylosing spondylitis?

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.