Musculoskeletal imaging: Bennett fracture: practice question

A Radiology 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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Radiology · Musculoskeletal imaging: Bennett fracture

Sample item

A boxer has pain at the base of the thumb after a punch. A radiograph shows a small volar fragment at the base of the first metacarpal with proximal subluxation of the shaft. What is this injury?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Bennett fracture-dislocation

A Bennett fracture is an intra-articular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal with a small volar fragment held by the oblique ligament, while the shaft is pulled proximally by abductor pollicis longus. A boxer's fracture involves the fifth metacarpal neck. Skier's thumb is an ulnar collateral ligament tear.

Option by option

  • A. Scaphoid waist fracture

    A scaphoid waist fracture lies in the wrist and not the thumb metacarpal.

  • B. Boxer's fracture

    A boxer's fracture involves the neck of the fifth metacarpal.

  • C. Bennett fracture-dislocation (correct)

    Correct. An intra-articular base fracture with subluxation is a Bennett fracture.

  • D. Skier's thumb

    Skier's thumb is a ligament injury and does not show a bony fragment at the base.

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 Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, Bennett fracture-dislocation. A Bennett fracture is an intra-articular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal with a small volar fragment held by the oblique ligament, while the shaft is pulled proximally by abductor pollicis longus.

Why is "Scaphoid waist fracture" not the answer?

A scaphoid waist fracture lies in the wrist and not the thumb metacarpal.

Why is "Boxer's fracture" not the answer?

A boxer's fracture involves the neck of the fifth metacarpal.

Why is "Skier's thumb" not the answer?

Skier's thumb is a ligament injury and does not show a bony fragment at the base.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Musculoskeletal imaging: Bennett fracture in Radiology. A boxer's fracture involves the fifth metacarpal neck. Skier's thumb is an ulnar collateral ligament tear.

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 Musculoskeletal imaging: Bennett fracture?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology 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.