Peripheral nerve injuries: deep peroneal nerve: 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 · Peripheral nerve injuries: deep peroneal nerve

Sample item

After an injury to the anterior compartment of the leg, a patient cannot dorsiflex the ankle or extend the toes. Sensation is lost only in the skin between the first and second toes. Which nerve is injured?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Deep peroneal nerve

The deep peroneal nerve supplies tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus, and gives sensation to the first web space of the foot. Its injury causes foot drop with a small area of sensory loss. The superficial peroneal nerve supplies the evertors and the rest of the dorsum.

Option by option

  • A. Deep peroneal nerve (correct)

    Correct. Weak dorsiflexion with first web space numbness is the deep peroneal pattern.

  • B. Superficial peroneal nerve

    The superficial peroneal nerve causes weak eversion and numbness of most of the dorsum of the foot.

  • C. Sural nerve

    The sural nerve is a sensory nerve to the lateral foot and does not move the ankle.

  • D. Tibial nerve

    The tibial nerve supplies plantar flexion and the sole of the foot.

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 A, Deep peroneal nerve. The deep peroneal nerve supplies tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus, and gives sensation to the first web space of the foot.

Why is "Superficial peroneal nerve" not the answer?

The superficial peroneal nerve causes weak eversion and numbness of most of the dorsum of the foot.

Why is "Sural nerve" not the answer?

The sural nerve is a sensory nerve to the lateral foot and does not move the ankle.

Why is "Tibial nerve" not the answer?

The tibial nerve supplies plantar flexion and the sole of the foot.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Peripheral nerve injuries: deep peroneal nerve in Orthopaedics. Its injury causes foot drop with a small area of sensory loss. The superficial peroneal nerve supplies the evertors and the rest of the dorsum.

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 Peripheral nerve injuries: deep peroneal nerve?

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.