Knee: meniscal vascular zones: 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: meniscal vascular zones

Sample item

A 22-year-old has a 1.5 cm longitudinal tear in the peripheral third of the medial meniscus, near the capsule. Why is meniscal repair rather than excision preferred?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. The outer red-red zone has a blood supply that permits healing

The peripheral third of the meniscus receives blood from the geniculate vessels, so tears in this red-red zone can heal after repair. The inner white-white zone is avascular, so tears there are usually trimmed. Preserving the meniscus protects the joint from early osteoarthritis.

Option by option

  • A. The meniscus has no blood supply in young adults

    The peripheral meniscus does have a blood supply, even in adults.

  • B. Excision is always better than repair

    Total excision increases joint contact stress and raises osteoarthritis risk.

  • C. The inner white-white zone heals best

    The inner white zone is avascular and heals poorly.

  • D. The outer red-red zone has a blood supply that permits healing (correct)

    Correct. A good blood supply in the periphery allows healing of a repaired tear.

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 D, The outer red-red zone has a blood supply that permits healing. The peripheral third of the meniscus receives blood from the geniculate vessels, so tears in this red-red zone can heal after repair.

Why is "The meniscus has no blood supply in young adults" not the answer?

The peripheral meniscus does have a blood supply, even in adults.

Why is "Excision is always better than repair" not the answer?

Total excision increases joint contact stress and raises osteoarthritis risk.

Why is "The inner white-white zone heals best" not the answer?

The inner white zone is avascular and heals poorly.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Knee: meniscal vascular zones in Orthopaedics. The inner white-white zone is avascular, so tears there are usually trimmed. Preserving the meniscus protects the joint from early osteoarthritis.

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 Knee: meniscal vascular zones?

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.