Trauma: compartment syndrome: 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 · Trauma: compartment syndrome

Sample item

After a forearm fracture, a patient has escalating pain despite analgesia and marked pain when the fingers are passively extended. Pulses are present. What is the key diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Acute compartment syndrome

Pain out of proportion and pain on passive stretch are early key findings of acute compartment syndrome. Pulses may remain palpable until late, so their presence does not exclude the diagnosis.

Option by option

  • A. Chronic tendinopathy

    Tendinopathy is chronic and does not follow this acute trauma pattern.

  • B. Acute compartment syndrome (correct)

    Correct. This is a limb-threatening compartment-pressure pattern.

  • C. Deep-vein thrombosis

    DVT causes swelling but not this post-fracture passive-stretch sign.

  • D. Simple bruising

    Bruising does not explain severe passive-stretch pain.

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, Acute compartment syndrome. Pain out of proportion and pain on passive stretch are early key findings of acute compartment syndrome.

Why is "Chronic tendinopathy" not the answer?

Tendinopathy is chronic and does not follow this acute trauma pattern.

Why is "Deep-vein thrombosis" not the answer?

DVT causes swelling but not this post-fracture passive-stretch sign.

Why is "Simple bruising" not the answer?

Bruising does not explain severe passive-stretch pain.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma: compartment syndrome in Orthopaedics. Pulses may remain palpable until late, so their presence does not exclude the diagnosis.

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 Trauma: compartment syndrome?

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.