Paediatric orthopaedics: childhood discitis: 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 · Paediatric orthopaedics: childhood discitis

Sample item

A 3-year-old refuses to walk or sit and has low-grade fever. She stands with a rigid, flexed lumbar spine, and ESR is raised. Initial radiographs are normal, but a repeat film weeks later shows narrowing of the L4-L5 disc space. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Infection of the intervertebral disc (discitis)

Discitis presents in young children with refusal to walk, back pain and a raised ESR, with disc narrowing appearing late on radiographs. MRI is the best test, Staphylococcus aureus is the usual organism, and treatment is antibiotics with rest.

Option by option

  • A. Infection of the intervertebral disc (discitis) (correct)

    Correct. Back pain with refusal to bear weight and a narrowing disc is discitis.

  • B. Scheuermann disease

    Scheuermann disease is a kyphosis of adolescents with wedged vertebrae.

  • C. Spondylolysis

    Spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the pars in older active children and does not cause fever.

  • D. Transient synovitis of the hip

    Transient synovitis affects the hip and does not narrow a disc space.

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, Infection of the intervertebral disc (discitis). Discitis presents in young children with refusal to walk, back pain and a raised ESR, with disc narrowing appearing late on radiographs.

Why is "Scheuermann disease" not the answer?

Scheuermann disease is a kyphosis of adolescents with wedged vertebrae.

Why is "Spondylolysis" not the answer?

Spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the pars in older active children and does not cause fever.

Why is "Transient synovitis of the hip" not the answer?

Transient synovitis affects the hip and does not narrow a disc space.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric orthopaedics: childhood discitis in Orthopaedics. MRI is the best test, Staphylococcus aureus is the usual organism, and treatment is antibiotics with rest.

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 Paediatric orthopaedics: childhood discitis?

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.