Burns: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Burns

Sample item

A man has circumferential full-thickness burns of the forearm and hand. Two hours later the fingers are cold and tense, capillary refill is poor and the radial pulse has weakened. What is the appropriate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Escharotomy

A rigid circumferential eschar acts as a tourniquet as oedema develops, compromising distal circulation. Escharotomy, an incision through the burnt tissue, releases the constriction and restores perfusion, and chest burns may need it to allow ventilation.

Option by option

  • A. Elevation alone and observation

    Elevation helps oedema but cannot relieve a non-expansile eschar around a limb.

  • B. Escharotomy (correct)

    Correct. Releasing the constricting eschar restores distal circulation.

  • C. Forearm amputation

    Amputation is unnecessary when decompression can restore perfusion.

  • D. Early split skin grafting on the same day

    Grafting does not relieve compression and is delayed until the wound bed is ready.

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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Escharotomy. A rigid circumferential eschar acts as a tourniquet as oedema develops, compromising distal circulation.

Why is "Elevation alone and observation" not the answer?

Elevation helps oedema but cannot relieve a non-expansile eschar around a limb.

Why is "Forearm amputation" not the answer?

Amputation is unnecessary when decompression can restore perfusion.

Why is "Early split skin grafting on the same day" not the answer?

Grafting does not relieve compression and is delayed until the wound bed is ready.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Burns in General Surgery. Escharotomy, an incision through the burnt tissue, releases the constriction and restores perfusion, and chest burns may need it to allow ventilation.

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 Burns?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.