Bone infection: chronic osteomyelitis 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 · Bone infection: chronic osteomyelitis treatment

Sample item

A patient with chronic osteomyelitis of the femur shows a sequestrum on radiograph. What is the key surgical step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Sequestrectomy with debridement and appropriate antibiotics

Dead bone cannot be sterilised by antibiotics, which cannot penetrate it, so the sequestrum must be excised with debridement of infected tissue, followed by culture-directed antibiotics and dead space management.

Option by option

  • A. Antibiotics alone for 2 weeks

    Antibiotics alone fail in the presence of dead bone.

  • B. Sequestrectomy with debridement and appropriate antibiotics (correct)

    Correct. Removing the sequestrum is essential.

  • C. Local steroid injection

    Steroid would worsen infection.

  • D. Cast immobilisation only

    Casting does not treat infection.

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, Sequestrectomy with debridement and appropriate antibiotics. Dead bone cannot be sterilised by antibiotics, which cannot penetrate it, so the sequestrum must be excised with debridement of infected tissue, followed by culture-directed antibiotics and dead space management.

Why is "Antibiotics alone for 2 weeks" not the answer?

Antibiotics alone fail in the presence of dead bone.

Why is "Local steroid injection" not the answer?

Steroid would worsen infection.

Why is "Cast immobilisation only" not the answer?

Casting does not treat infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone infection: chronic osteomyelitis treatment in Orthopaedics. The correct option holds because: Correct. Removing the sequestrum is essential.

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: chronic osteomyelitis 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.