Bone infection: cold abscess of the psoas: 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 · Bone infection: cold abscess of the psoas

Sample item

A young man with tuberculosis of the lumbar spine develops a swelling in the groin below the inguinal ligament and a flexed hip. How does the abscess reach the groin?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Tracking along the psoas sheath

A cold abscess from lumbar vertebrae tracks along the psoas sheath into the femoral triangle (Scarpa triangle), and the irritated psoas keeps the hip flexed. It can also point in the lumbar triangle.

Option by option

  • A. Through the obturator foramen only

    Obturator tracking is rare.

  • B. Tracking along the psoas sheath (correct)

    Correct. The psoas sheath guides the abscess to the groin.

  • C. By lymphatic spread from the foot

    Lymphatic spread from the foot is not the mechanism.

  • D. Along the femoral artery only

    The abscess does not track along the femoral artery as the usual route.

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 B, Tracking along the psoas sheath. A cold abscess from lumbar vertebrae tracks along the psoas sheath into the femoral triangle (Scarpa triangle), and the irritated psoas keeps the hip flexed.

Why is "Through the obturator foramen only" not the answer?

Obturator tracking is rare.

Why is "By lymphatic spread from the foot" not the answer?

Lymphatic spread from the foot is not the mechanism.

Why is "Along the femoral artery only" not the answer?

The abscess does not track along the femoral artery as the usual route.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone infection: cold abscess of the psoas in Orthopaedics. It can also point in the lumbar triangle.

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 Bone infection: cold abscess of the psoas?

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.