Bone infection: Marjolin ulcer: 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 · Bone infection: Marjolin ulcer

Sample item

A man with a chronic discharging sinus from osteomyelitis of the tibia for 25 years develops a non-healing ulcer with everted edges. Which complication is suspected?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin ulcer)

Squamous cell carcinoma can arise in long-standing sinuses, burn scars and chronic ulcers (Marjolin ulcer). A change in character of the discharge or the edge warrants a biopsy, and treatment is wide excision or amputation.

Option by option

  • A. Squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin ulcer) (correct)

    Correct. Long-standing sinuses can transform into squamous cell carcinoma.

  • B. Amyloidosis only

    Amyloidosis is a systemic complication but does not cause an ulcer with everted edges.

  • C. Melanoma

    Melanoma is not typical here.

  • D. Basal cell carcinoma

    Basal cell carcinoma is not typical for chronic sinus tracts.

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.

More Orthopaedics questions

Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin ulcer). Squamous cell carcinoma can arise in long-standing sinuses, burn scars and chronic ulcers (Marjolin ulcer).

Why is "Amyloidosis only" not the answer?

Amyloidosis is a systemic complication but does not cause an ulcer with everted edges.

Why is "Melanoma" not the answer?

Melanoma is not typical here.

Why is "Basal cell carcinoma" not the answer?

Basal cell carcinoma is not typical for chronic sinus tracts.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone infection: Marjolin ulcer in Orthopaedics. A change in character of the discharge or the edge warrants a biopsy, and treatment is wide excision or amputation.

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 Bone infection: Marjolin ulcer?

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.