Complications: positioning nerve injury: practice question

A Anaesthesia 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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Anaesthesia · Complications: positioning nerve injury

Sample item

Which nerve is most vulnerable to injury in the lithotomy position with leg support pressing on the lateral fibular head?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Common peroneal nerve

The common peroneal nerve winds around the neck of the fibula and is compressed by leg supports, causing foot drop. Femoral neuropathy arises from extreme hip flexion, and ulnar neuropathy from the elbow in the supine position.

Option by option

  • A. Femoral nerve

    Femoral nerve injury follows retractor pressure or hip flexion.

  • B. Common peroneal nerve (correct)

    Correct. Foot drop results from compression at the fibular neck.

  • C. Ulnar nerve

    Ulnar nerve injury is in the supine arm position.

  • D. Radial nerve

    Radial nerve injury follows arm compression against a screen.

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 Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, Common peroneal nerve. The common peroneal nerve winds around the neck of the fibula and is compressed by leg supports, causing foot drop.

Why is "Femoral nerve" not the answer?

Femoral nerve injury follows retractor pressure or hip flexion.

Why is "Ulnar nerve" not the answer?

Ulnar nerve injury is in the supine arm position.

Why is "Radial nerve" not the answer?

Radial nerve injury follows arm compression against a screen.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications: positioning nerve injury in Anaesthesia. Femoral neuropathy arises from extreme hip flexion, and ulnar neuropathy from the elbow in the supine position.

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 Complications: positioning nerve injury?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia 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.