Upper limb and brachial plexus: Kienbock disease: practice question

A Anatomy 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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Anatomy · Upper limb and brachial plexus: Kienbock disease

Sample item

A 30-year-old manual labourer has insidious dorsal wrist pain, reduced grip and tenderness just distal to the radius on the dorsum. Radiographs show sclerosis and later collapse of one carpal bone. Which bone is involved?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Lunate

Kienbock disease is avascular necrosis of the lunate, often in young men doing repetitive manual work. The lunate has a limited blood supply, and fracture of a palmar or dorsal pole can compromise it. The scaphoid more often develops necrosis after a fracture.

Option by option

  • A. Capitate

    Capitate necrosis is rare and not the named wrist osteonecrosis in this scenario.

  • B. Trapezium

    The trapezium is more often affected by osteoarthritis at the thumb base.

  • C. Scaphoid

    Scaphoid necrosis typically follows a waist fracture, not insidious collapse in a labourer.

  • D. Lunate (correct)

    Correct. Osteonecrosis of the lunate is Kienbock disease.

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 Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is D, Lunate. Kienbock disease is avascular necrosis of the lunate, often in young men doing repetitive manual work.

Why is "Capitate" not the answer?

Capitate necrosis is rare and not the named wrist osteonecrosis in this scenario.

Why is "Trapezium" not the answer?

The trapezium is more often affected by osteoarthritis at the thumb base.

Why is "Scaphoid" not the answer?

Scaphoid necrosis typically follows a waist fracture, not insidious collapse in a labourer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb and brachial plexus: Kienbock disease in Anatomy. The lunate has a limited blood supply, and fracture of a palmar or dorsal pole can compromise it. The scaphoid more often develops necrosis after a fracture.

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 Upper limb and brachial plexus: Kienbock disease?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy 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.