Spine: spinal dysraphism with tethered cord: 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 · Spine: spinal dysraphism with tethered cord

Sample item

A 6-year-old has a tuft of hair over the lumbar spine, a progressive cavovarus deformity of one foot and urinary urgency. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Tethered cord from spinal dysraphism

A cutaneous marker such as a hairy patch with progressive foot deformity and bladder symptoms points to a low-lying tethered cord, for example from a split cord malformation. MRI confirms it and early untethering prevents further loss.

Option by option

  • A. Tethered cord from spinal dysraphism (correct)

    Correct. Skin marker, progressive foot deformity and bladder symptoms indicate a tethered cord.

  • B. Cerebral palsy of spastic type

    Cerebral palsy is non-progressive and does not come with a lumbar skin marker.

  • C. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

    Hereditary neuropathy can cause cavus feet but has no hair patch and no urinary dysfunction in a child.

  • D. Spina bifida occulta without neural involvement

    Spina bifida occulta alone is asymptomatic and does not cause progressive deformity.

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, Tethered cord from spinal dysraphism. A cutaneous marker such as a hairy patch with progressive foot deformity and bladder symptoms points to a low-lying tethered cord, for example from a split cord malformation.

Why is "Cerebral palsy of spastic type" not the answer?

Cerebral palsy is non-progressive and does not come with a lumbar skin marker.

Why is "Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease" not the answer?

Hereditary neuropathy can cause cavus feet but has no hair patch and no urinary dysfunction in a child.

Why is "Spina bifida occulta without neural involvement" not the answer?

Spina bifida occulta alone is asymptomatic and does not cause progressive deformity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Spine: spinal dysraphism with tethered cord in Orthopaedics. MRI confirms it and early untethering prevents further loss.

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 Spine: spinal dysraphism with tethered cord?

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.