Nerve injuries: sural nerve graft: 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.

Try it

Orthopaedics · Nerve injuries: sural nerve graft

Sample item

A 25-year-old has a clean laceration of the median nerve at the wrist, treated at 1 week. After debridement, a gap remains that cannot be closed without tension. What is the usual solution?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Interposition nerve graft, commonly from the sural nerve

A tension-free repair is essential for nerve regeneration. When a gap cannot be closed without tension, an autologous cable graft is used, most commonly the sural nerve, which leaves only a small area of numbness on the lateral foot. Repair under tension produces ischaemia and scarring.

Option by option

  • A. Interposition nerve graft, commonly from the sural nerve (correct)

    Correct. The sural nerve is the standard donor for a nerve gap.

  • B. Tendon transfer only

    Tendon transfer is reserved for irreparable palsy, not an acute clean laceration.

  • C. Waiting 6 months for spontaneous healing

    A clean nerve division should be repaired early, not left for 6 months.

  • D. Direct repair under tension

    Repair under tension leads to poor regeneration.

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, Interposition nerve graft, commonly from the sural nerve. A tension-free repair is essential for nerve regeneration.

Why is "Tendon transfer only" not the answer?

Tendon transfer is reserved for irreparable palsy, not an acute clean laceration.

Why is "Waiting 6 months for spontaneous healing" not the answer?

A clean nerve division should be repaired early, not left for 6 months.

Why is "Direct repair under tension" not the answer?

Repair under tension leads to poor regeneration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nerve injuries: sural nerve graft in Orthopaedics. When a gap cannot be closed without tension, an autologous cable graft is used, most commonly the sural nerve, which leaves only a small area of numbness on the lateral foot. Repair under tension produces ischaemia and scarring.

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 Nerve injuries: sural nerve graft?

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.