Surgical infection: clostridial myonecrosis: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Surgical infection: clostridial myonecrosis

Sample item

A patient with a contaminated crush injury develops severe pain, rapidly spreading edema, crepitus, systemic toxicity, and gas in muscle. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Clostridial myonecrosis

Clostridial myonecrosis is a fulminant toxin-mediated soft-tissue infection causing muscle necrosis and gas production. It requires immediate radical debridement, resuscitation, and broad antimicrobial therapy.

Option by option

  • A. Clostridial myonecrosis (correct)

    Correct. Gas in muscle with rapid systemic toxicity is classic gas gangrene.

  • B. Deep-vein thrombosis

    DVT causes swelling but not crepitus and gas.

  • C. Chronic venous insufficiency

    Venous insufficiency is chronic and noninfectious.

  • D. Simple cellulitis

    Cellulitis usually lacks intramuscular gas and fulminant necrosis.

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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Clostridial myonecrosis. Clostridial myonecrosis is a fulminant toxin-mediated soft-tissue infection causing muscle necrosis and gas production.

Why is "Deep-vein thrombosis" not the answer?

DVT causes swelling but not crepitus and gas.

Why is "Chronic venous insufficiency" not the answer?

Venous insufficiency is chronic and noninfectious.

Why is "Simple cellulitis" not the answer?

Cellulitis usually lacks intramuscular gas and fulminant necrosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Surgical infection: clostridial myonecrosis in General Surgery. It requires immediate radical debridement, resuscitation, and broad antimicrobial therapy.

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 Surgical infection: clostridial myonecrosis?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.