Metabolic bone disease: osteomalacia: 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 · Metabolic bone disease: osteomalacia

Sample item

A patient has diffuse bone pain, proximal muscle weakness, low phosphate, and elevated alkaline phosphatase due to vitamin D deficiency. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Osteomalacia

Osteomalacia is defective mineralization of mature bone, often due to vitamin D deficiency, causing bone pain, weakness, and biochemical abnormalities. In children, the analogous condition is rickets.

Option by option

  • A. Paget disease

    Paget disease causes disorganized increased bone remodeling with a different biochemical and imaging pattern.

  • B. Osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis is degenerative articular cartilage disease.

  • C. Osteomalacia (correct)

    Correct. Defective mineralization in adults is osteomalacia.

  • D. Septic arthritis

    Septic arthritis is infection within a joint.

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 C, Osteomalacia. Osteomalacia is defective mineralization of mature bone, often due to vitamin D deficiency, causing bone pain, weakness, and biochemical abnormalities.

Why is "Paget disease" not the answer?

Paget disease causes disorganized increased bone remodeling with a different biochemical and imaging pattern.

Why is "Osteoarthritis" not the answer?

Osteoarthritis is degenerative articular cartilage disease.

Why is "Septic arthritis" not the answer?

Septic arthritis is infection within a joint.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Metabolic bone disease: osteomalacia in Orthopaedics. In children, the analogous condition is rickets.

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 Metabolic bone disease: osteomalacia?

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.