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Orthopaedics and trauma medical question bank

Practise every orthopaedics and trauma topic with explained SBAs.

Recall Engine has 300+ orthopaedics and trauma questions across 30+ topics in 2 body systems. Every question explains each option.

questions
300+
topics
30+
topic notes
20+
clinical skills guides
10+
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Orthopaedics and trauma by body system

Orthopaedics and trauma has 30+ topics in 2 body systems. Each section shows how many questions it has and every topic it covers.

Nervous system

7 questions across 2 topics. It also has 1 topic note and 2 clinical skills guides.

  • Peripheral nerve injuries
  • Peripheral nerve injury assessment

Musculoskeletal

300+ questions across 30+ topics. It also has 10+ topic notes and 10+ clinical skills guides.

  • Ankle and foot examination
  • Back pain: cauda equina warning signs
  • Bone and joint infection
  • Bone healing and osteonecrosis
  • Elbow examination
  • Elbow pain history taking
  • FABER test for hip and sacroiliac joint pain
  • Foot and ankle disorders
  • Fractures: management and complications
  • Hand and wrist examination
  • Hand disorders
  • Hand tingling: nerve tests and function
  • Hip examination
  • History taking in orthopaedics
  • Knee examination
  • Knee injuries
  • Knee injury: stability testing
  • Knee pain history
  • Limb fractures
  • Limb injuries, casts, and wrist ganglion
  • Orthopaedic diagnosis: history, examination, and investigations
  • Orthopaedic history taking
  • Orthopaedic operations and arthroplasty
  • Polytrauma and complex fractures
  • Shoulder and elbow disorders
  • Shoulder examination
  • Shoulder pain: rotator cuff and AC joint
  • Skeletal dysplasia and genetic disorders
  • Slump test
  • Spinal disorders
  • Spinal examination
  • Spinal mobility measurement

Orthopaedics and trauma sample questions

These 3 are published orthopaedics and trauma questions shown exactly as students see them. Open an answer to see why it is right and why every other option is wrong.

Question 1 · Orthopaedics and trauma, Clinical

An 84-year-old woman cannot stand after tripping on a rug. On hip examination, inspection with her lying supine shows the right lower limb lying shorter than the left, with the foot and patella turned outwards. An AP pelvis radiograph later shows a displaced fracture across the right femoral neck, with the lesser trochanter projecting more prominently than on the left. Which muscle's unopposed pull best explains the outward-turned posture seen on inspection?

  1. A. Vastus lateralis
  2. B. Iliopsoas
  3. C. Gluteus medius
  4. D. Tensor fasciae latae
  5. E. Rectus femoris
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. Iliopsoas

After a displaced femoral neck fracture the shaft is no longer anchored to the head. Iliopsoas inserts on the lesser trochanter of that free fragment and, unopposed, pulls it into flexion and external rotation, while muscle pull draws the shaft upwards, so the limb looks short and turned outwards. The more prominent lesser trochanter on the film reflects the same external rotation.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Vastus lateralis: Vastus lateralis arises from the greater trochanter and femoral shaft and acts across the knee as an extensor; it does not rotate the hip.
  • C. Gluteus medius: Gluteus medius abducts and medially rotates the hip and keeps the pelvis level in walking, so its pull would turn the limb inwards, not outwards.
  • D. Tensor fasciae latae: Tensor fasciae latae assists abduction and medial rotation, so it cannot explain a limb that has rolled outwards.
  • E. Rectus femoris: Rectus femoris flexes the hip and extends the knee through the quadriceps tendon; it does not insert on the lesser trochanter and does not roll the femur outwards.

Key point: On inspection after a fall, a shortened, externally rotated lower limb suggests a displaced femoral neck fracture: unopposed iliopsoas on the lesser trochanter rolls the freed shaft outwards as it rides upwards.

Question 2 · Orthopaedics and trauma, Clinical

A 41-year-old man began training for a half marathon 2 months ago. He has stiffness in the right Achilles tendon on getting up that eases after a few minutes, and pain when running uphill. There is a tender, spindle-shaped thickening 4 cm above the heel, repeated single-leg heel raises are fewer and painful on that side, and the calf squeeze test is normal. Which is the most appropriate initial management?

  1. A. Below-knee cast for 6 weeks
  2. B. Open debridement of the tendon
  3. C. Complete rest until pain-free
  4. D. Progressive tendon loading exercises
  5. E. Corticosteroid injection into the tendon
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D. Progressive tendon loading exercises

Pain 2 to 6 cm above the calcaneal insertion with morning stiffness that eases with movement, after a rise in training load, is mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy. First-line care is load management: a progressive loading programme such as eccentric heel drops, activity and footwear modification, short-term bilateral heel raises, and weight management. Eccentric exercise works better for mid-portion than insertional disease. NSAIDs are not supported, steroid injection risks rupture, and surgery follows failed conservative care.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Below-knee cast for 6 weeks: Immobilisation protects a ruptured tendon; this intact tendon with overuse pain needs graded loading.
  • B. Open debridement of the tendon: Surgery is considered only after conservative options, including a full loading programme, have failed.
  • C. Complete rest until pain-free: Prolonged rest unloads the tendon and delays recovery; the load needs adjusting, not removing.
  • E. Corticosteroid injection into the tendon: Steroid injection at the Achilles risks spontaneous rupture and is not recommended.

Key point: Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (pain 2 to 6 cm above the insertion with morning stiffness after a training increase) is treated with progressive loading and activity and footwear changes, avoiding steroid injection because of rupture risk.

References

  • Posterior heel, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, MSK foot and ankle pathway (Right Decision Service)

Question 3 · Orthopaedics and trauma, Clinical

A 52-year-old man fell 3 metres onto his feet and has a closed, comminuted fracture of the distal tibial joint surface. Within 24 hours the ankle is massively swollen, with tense, blood-filled blisters over the front of the joint. Pulses and sensation are normal and the leg compartments are soft. Which initial stabilisation plan is best?

  1. A. Heel skeletal traction with bed rest for 8 weeks
  2. B. Spanning external fixator until the skin settles
  3. C. Immediate open reduction and plate fixation
  4. D. Circumferential cast applied in the emergency department
  5. E. Backslab as the only stabilisation until union
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. Spanning external fixator until the skin settles

A comminuted, unstable articular fracture under massively swollen skin with haemorrhagic fracture blisters cannot be opened safely yet. A spanning external fixator restores length and alignment and rests the soft tissues while swelling subsides, and definitive internal fixation follows once the skin has settled. Fracture blisters are prohibitive for open fixation until they heal, and poor timing relative to swelling raises infection risk.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Heel skeletal traction with bed rest for 8 weeks: Weeks of traction and bed rest are rarely used now, and traction hinders care of the blistered skin.
  • C. Immediate open reduction and plate fixation: Incisions through swollen skin with blood-filled blisters risk wound breakdown and deep infection; blisters prohibit open fixation for now.
  • D. Circumferential cast applied in the emergency department: A complete cast does not allow the limb to swell, so further swelling raises pressure under it; a backslab is used acutely.
  • E. Backslab as the only stabilisation until union: A backslab loosens as swelling falls and cannot hold a comminuted, unstable joint fracture to union.

Key point: When swelling or fracture blisters make the skin unsafe, stage treatment: temporary spanning external fixation to hold length and alignment, with definitive internal fixation once the soft tissues recover.

References

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