Fractures and dislocations: complications: 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 · Fractures and dislocations: complications

Sample item

Five weeks after a wrist fracture, a woman has burning pain out of proportion, a shiny swollen hand, pain on light touch and patchy osteopenia on films. What is the best initial management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pain control with intensive physiotherapy and desensitisation

This is complex regional pain syndrome, driven by pain and disuse. Early mobilisation with analgesia and graded desensitisation is the base treatment, with neuropathic agents or blocks if it persists.

Option by option

  • A. Repeat manipulation under anaesthesia

    Further manipulation adds trauma and may aggravate the syndrome.

  • B. Pain control with intensive physiotherapy and desensitisation (correct)

    Correct. Active therapy with pain control is the core of treatment.

  • C. Immediate carpal tunnel release

    There is no evidence of median nerve compression to justify release.

  • D. Prolonged immobilisation in plaster

    Immobilisation worsens stiffness, pain and osteopenia in this syndrome.

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, Pain control with intensive physiotherapy and desensitisation. This is complex regional pain syndrome, driven by pain and disuse.

Why is "Repeat manipulation under anaesthesia" not the answer?

Further manipulation adds trauma and may aggravate the syndrome.

Why is "Immediate carpal tunnel release" not the answer?

There is no evidence of median nerve compression to justify release.

Why is "Prolonged immobilisation in plaster" not the answer?

Immobilisation worsens stiffness, pain and osteopenia in this syndrome.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Fractures and dislocations: complications in Orthopaedics. Early mobilisation with analgesia and graded desensitisation is the base treatment, with neuropathic agents or blocks if it persists.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Fractures and dislocations: complications?

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.