Dislocations: 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 · Dislocations

Sample item

After a car dashboard injury, a young man lies with the left hip flexed, adducted and internally rotated, and the leg appears shortened. Which nerve is most at risk?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Sciatic nerve

This posture indicates a posterior dislocation of the hip, in which the femoral head lies behind the acetabulum close to the sciatic nerve. Sciatic injury, mainly its peroneal part, occurs in a minority and the hip should be reduced urgently to reduce the risk of avascular necrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Sciatic nerve (correct)

    The displaced head lies behind the acetabulum and stretches or compresses the sciatic nerve.

  • B. Superior gluteal nerve

    The superior gluteal nerve is a branch that is rarely injured in this dislocation.

  • C. Femoral nerve

    The femoral nerve lies anteriorly and is at risk in anterior dislocation rather than posterior.

  • D. Obturator nerve

    The obturator nerve is related to the obturator foramen and is at risk in obturator-type anterior dislocation.

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, Sciatic nerve. This posture indicates a posterior dislocation of the hip, in which the femoral head lies behind the acetabulum close to the sciatic nerve.

Why is "Superior gluteal nerve" not the answer?

The superior gluteal nerve is a branch that is rarely injured in this dislocation.

Why is "Femoral nerve" not the answer?

The femoral nerve lies anteriorly and is at risk in anterior dislocation rather than posterior.

Why is "Obturator nerve" not the answer?

The obturator nerve is related to the obturator foramen and is at risk in obturator-type anterior dislocation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Dislocations in Orthopaedics. Sciatic injury, mainly its peroneal part, occurs in a minority and the hip should be reduced urgently to reduce the risk of avascular necrosis.

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 Dislocations?

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.