Knee: patellofemoral pain: 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 · Knee: patellofemoral pain

Sample item

A teenage girl has anterior knee pain on climbing stairs and after prolonged sitting, with a positive patellar compression test. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (chondromalacia patellae)

Patellofemoral pain syndrome causes anterior knee pain aggravated by stairs, squatting and prolonged sitting (theatre sign), and is related to patellar maltracking. Treatment is quadriceps strengthening, particularly vastus medialis, and activity modification.

Option by option

  • A. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (chondromalacia patellae) (correct)

    Correct. The history is classic for patellofemoral pain.

  • B. Posterior cruciate ligament injury

    PCL injury follows trauma and gives posterior instability.

  • C. Meniscal tear

    A meniscal tear causes joint line pain and locking.

  • D. Osgood-Schlatter disease

    Osgood-Schlatter pain is localised to the tibial tuberosity.

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, Patellofemoral pain syndrome (chondromalacia patellae). Patellofemoral pain syndrome causes anterior knee pain aggravated by stairs, squatting and prolonged sitting (theatre sign), and is related to patellar maltracking.

Why is "Posterior cruciate ligament injury" not the answer?

PCL injury follows trauma and gives posterior instability.

Why is "Meniscal tear" not the answer?

A meniscal tear causes joint line pain and locking.

Why is "Osgood-Schlatter disease" not the answer?

Osgood-Schlatter pain is localised to the tibial tuberosity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Knee: patellofemoral pain in Orthopaedics. Treatment is quadriceps strengthening, particularly vastus medialis, and activity modification.

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 Knee: patellofemoral pain?

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.