Fractures: femoral neck stress fracture: 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: femoral neck stress fracture

Sample item

A 22-year-old marathon runner has groin pain on running, and an MRI shows a stress fracture on the superolateral (tension) side of the femoral neck. What is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Urgent surgical fixation to prevent displacement

Tension-side femoral neck stress fractures have a high risk of displacement and subsequent avascular necrosis, so they are fixed with screws without delay. Compression-side (inferomedial) fractures, if small, can often be managed with protected weight bearing. Continuing to run risks complete fracture.

Option by option

  • A. Continue running with analgesia

    Running worsens the fracture and may cause displacement.

  • B. Total hip replacement

    Replacement is excessive for a young runner with an undisplaced fracture.

  • C. Protected weight bearing alone for two weeks

    Short protected weight bearing is not adequate for a tension-side fracture.

  • D. Urgent surgical fixation to prevent displacement (correct)

    Correct. Tension-side fractures are fixed urgently because they tend to displace.

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, Urgent surgical fixation to prevent displacement. Tension-side femoral neck stress fractures have a high risk of displacement and subsequent avascular necrosis, so they are fixed with screws without delay.

Why is "Continue running with analgesia" not the answer?

Running worsens the fracture and may cause displacement.

Why is "Total hip replacement" not the answer?

Replacement is excessive for a young runner with an undisplaced fracture.

Why is "Protected weight bearing alone for two weeks" not the answer?

Short protected weight bearing is not adequate for a tension-side fracture.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Fractures: femoral neck stress fracture in Orthopaedics. Compression-side (inferomedial) fractures, if small, can often be managed with protected weight bearing. Continuing to run risks complete fracture.

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: femoral neck stress fracture?

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.