Paediatric: cubitus varus: 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: cubitus varus

Sample item

A 10-year-old who had a childhood supracondylar fracture has a gunstock deformity of the elbow. What is the primary cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Malunion with medial tilt and internal rotation of the distal fragment

Cubitus varus, or gunstock deformity, is mostly a malunion after supracondylar fracture with varus angulation and internal rotation. It is mainly a cosmetic problem and treated by corrective lateral closing wedge osteotomy.

Option by option

  • A. Malunion with medial tilt and internal rotation of the distal fragment (correct)

    Correct. Malunion in varus is the usual cause.

  • B. Ulnar nerve palsy

    Nerve palsy does not cause the angular deformity.

  • C. Growth arrest of the lateral condyle

    Lateral condyle growth arrest leads to cubitus varus only rarely, whereas nonunion causes valgus.

  • D. Nonunion of the lateral condyle

    Lateral condyle nonunion produces cubitus valgus.

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 A, Malunion with medial tilt and internal rotation of the distal fragment. Cubitus varus, or gunstock deformity, is mostly a malunion after supracondylar fracture with varus angulation and internal rotation.

Why is "Ulnar nerve palsy" not the answer?

Nerve palsy does not cause the angular deformity.

Why is "Growth arrest of the lateral condyle" not the answer?

Lateral condyle growth arrest leads to cubitus varus only rarely, whereas nonunion causes valgus.

Why is "Nonunion of the lateral condyle" not the answer?

Lateral condyle nonunion produces cubitus valgus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric: cubitus varus in Orthopaedics. It is mainly a cosmetic problem and treated by corrective lateral closing wedge osteotomy.

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: cubitus varus?

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.