Burns: hydrofluoric acid: 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 · Burns: hydrofluoric acid

Sample item

A laboratory worker splashes concentrated hydrofluoric acid on her hand and develops severe pain out of proportion to the minimal skin change. After copious irrigation, which topical treatment is most appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Calcium gluconate gel

Hydrofluoric acid penetrates deeply, and fluoride ions bind calcium and magnesium, causing intense pain, tissue necrosis, and systemic hypocalcaemia and arrhythmias in large exposures. Irrigation is followed by 2.5% calcium gluconate gel, with subcutaneous or intra-arterial calcium for refractory pain and ECG and calcium monitoring.

Option by option

  • A. Dry dressing and observation

    Observing alone leaves fluoride damaging deep tissues and can lead to systemic toxicity.

  • B. Sodium bicarbonate paste

    Bicarbonate neutralisation can generate heat and does not bind fluoride.

  • C. Calcium gluconate gel (correct)

    Correct. Calcium gluconate binds free fluoride ions and relieves the pain.

  • D. Silver sulfadiazine cream

    Silver sulfadiazine is an antimicrobial for thermal burns and does not neutralise fluoride.

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 C, Calcium gluconate gel. Hydrofluoric acid penetrates deeply, and fluoride ions bind calcium and magnesium, causing intense pain, tissue necrosis, and systemic hypocalcaemia and arrhythmias in large exposures.

Why is "Dry dressing and observation" not the answer?

Observing alone leaves fluoride damaging deep tissues and can lead to systemic toxicity.

Why is "Sodium bicarbonate paste" not the answer?

Bicarbonate neutralisation can generate heat and does not bind fluoride.

Why is "Silver sulfadiazine cream" not the answer?

Silver sulfadiazine is an antimicrobial for thermal burns and does not neutralise fluoride.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Burns: hydrofluoric acid in General Surgery. Irrigation is followed by 2.5% calcium gluconate gel, with subcutaneous or intra-arterial calcium for refractory pain and ECG and calcium monitoring.

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 Burns: hydrofluoric acid?

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.