Meniscal injuries: 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 · Meniscal injuries

Sample item

A young footballer twists his knee and cannot fully extend it afterwards. The knee has a springy block to extension at about 20 degrees and joint line tenderness medially. What is the likely injury, and what investigation is best?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus, with MRI

A locked knee with a springy block to extension suggests a displaced bucket-handle tear of the meniscus, usually medial, flipping into the intercondylar notch. MRI is the investigation of choice, and treatment is arthroscopic repair or partial meniscectomy.

Option by option

  • A. Bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus, with MRI (correct)

    Correct. A true mechanical block with joint line tenderness suggests a displaced meniscal fragment.

  • B. Anterior cruciate ligament rupture, with stress radiographs

    An ACL rupture causes instability and haemarthrosis, not a springy extension block.

  • C. Patellar dislocation, with skyline view

    Patellar dislocation causes lateral displacement, and patients have apprehension.

  • D. Posterior cruciate ligament tear, with a bone scan

    A PCL tear follows a posterior tibial blow and gives a posterior sag, not a locked knee.

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 A, Bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus, with MRI. A locked knee with a springy block to extension suggests a displaced bucket-handle tear of the meniscus, usually medial, flipping into the intercondylar notch.

Why is "Anterior cruciate ligament rupture, with stress radiographs" not the answer?

An ACL rupture causes instability and haemarthrosis, not a springy extension block.

Why is "Patellar dislocation, with skyline view" not the answer?

Patellar dislocation causes lateral displacement, and patients have apprehension.

Why is "Posterior cruciate ligament tear, with a bone scan" not the answer?

A PCL tear follows a posterior tibial blow and gives a posterior sag, not a locked knee.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Meniscal injuries in Orthopaedics. MRI is the investigation of choice, and treatment is arthroscopic repair or partial meniscectomy.

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 Meniscal injuries?

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.