Labour and delivery: clavicle fracture: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Labour and delivery: clavicle fracture

Sample item

After a delivery complicated by shoulder dystocia, a newborn does not move the right arm well, cries on handling the shoulder, and has a palpable crepitus over the right clavicle. The Moro reflex is asymmetrical, but grasp is intact. What is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Gentle handling with sleeve pinned up

Fracture of the clavicle is the commonest fracture in newborns, caused by shoulder dystocia or large babies. It heals rapidly with callus formation without specific treatment other than analgesia and gentle handling. The intact grasp separates it from brachial plexus injury.

Option by option

  • A. Immediate surgical plate fixation

    Surgical fixation is not required in newborn clavicle fractures.

  • B. Early brachial plexus exploration

    Exploration is for persistent brachial plexus palsy, and grasp here is intact.

  • C. Figure-of-eight bandage for 6 weeks

    Figure-of-eight bandaging is not needed and is poorly tolerated by neonates.

  • D. Gentle handling with sleeve pinned up (correct)

    Correct. The fracture heals in 1 to 2 weeks with conservative care.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Gentle handling with sleeve pinned up. Fracture of the clavicle is the commonest fracture in newborns, caused by shoulder dystocia or large babies.

Why is "Immediate surgical plate fixation" not the answer?

Surgical fixation is not required in newborn clavicle fractures.

Why is "Early brachial plexus exploration" not the answer?

Exploration is for persistent brachial plexus palsy, and grasp here is intact.

Why is "Figure-of-eight bandage for 6 weeks" not the answer?

Figure-of-eight bandaging is not needed and is poorly tolerated by neonates.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Labour and delivery: clavicle fracture in OBG. It heals rapidly with callus formation without specific treatment other than analgesia and gentle handling. The intact grasp separates it from brachial plexus injury.

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 Labour and delivery: clavicle fracture?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.