Fractures and dislocations: proximal humerus fracture treatment: 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 · Fractures and dislocations: proximal humerus fracture treatment

Sample item

A 75-year-old woman falls and has a minimally displaced fracture of the proximal humerus with a single part involved. What is the usual treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Sling for comfort with early physiotherapy

Most proximal humerus fractures in older people are minimally displaced and stable, and are treated without surgery. A sling for a short time is followed by early pendulum and range-of-motion exercises, because prolonged immobilisation leads to a stiff shoulder.

Option by option

  • A. Hemiarthroplasty on the day of injury

    Arthroplasty is for displaced, unreconstructable fractures.

  • B. Plaster spica for 8 weeks

    A spica cast is not used for the shoulder and prolonged immobility causes stiffness.

  • C. Locking plate fixation as routine

    Plating is for displaced fractures in selected patients and not for a minimally displaced one.

  • D. Sling for comfort with early physiotherapy (correct)

    Correct. Stable one-part fractures do well with a sling and early mobilisation.

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 D, Sling for comfort with early physiotherapy. Most proximal humerus fractures in older people are minimally displaced and stable, and are treated without surgery.

Why is "Hemiarthroplasty on the day of injury" not the answer?

Arthroplasty is for displaced, unreconstructable fractures.

Why is "Plaster spica for 8 weeks" not the answer?

A spica cast is not used for the shoulder and prolonged immobility causes stiffness.

Why is "Locking plate fixation as routine" not the answer?

Plating is for displaced fractures in selected patients and not for a minimally displaced one.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Fractures and dislocations: proximal humerus fracture treatment in Orthopaedics. A sling for a short time is followed by early pendulum and range-of-motion exercises, because prolonged immobilisation leads to a stiff shoulder.

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 Fractures and dislocations: proximal humerus fracture treatment?

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.