Hip: FABER test: 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 · Hip: FABER test

Sample item

A patient lies supine while the examiner places the foot of the painful leg on the opposite knee and presses the knee down into flexion, abduction and external rotation. Groin pain results. What does this suggest?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. A hip joint disorder

The FABER or Patrick test puts the hip in flexion, abduction and external rotation and provokes anterior groin pain in hip joint disease such as arthritis or impingement. Pain felt in the posterior pelvis suggests sacroiliac joint pathology instead. A positive result needs imaging of the hip.

Option by option

  • A. Peroneal nerve palsy

    Peroneal palsy causes foot drop and is not tested this way.

  • B. A knee meniscal tear

    A meniscal tear is tested at the knee joint line.

  • C. A lumbar disc prolapse

    A lumbar disc is tested by the straight leg raise.

  • D. A hip joint disorder (correct)

    Correct. Groin pain on the FABER test points to the hip joint.

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, A hip joint disorder. The FABER or Patrick test puts the hip in flexion, abduction and external rotation and provokes anterior groin pain in hip joint disease such as arthritis or impingement.

Why is "Peroneal nerve palsy" not the answer?

Peroneal palsy causes foot drop and is not tested this way.

Why is "A knee meniscal tear" not the answer?

A meniscal tear is tested at the knee joint line.

Why is "A lumbar disc prolapse" not the answer?

A lumbar disc is tested by the straight leg raise.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hip: FABER test in Orthopaedics. Pain felt in the posterior pelvis suggests sacroiliac joint pathology instead. A positive result needs imaging of the hip.

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 Hip: FABER test?

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.