Orthopedic Board Prep MCQs: Arthroplasty, Knee & Osteotomy | Part 16

Key Takeaway
This page offers Part 16 of a comprehensive orthopedic board review. It features 50 high-yield MCQs modeled after OITE and AAOS exams, covering Arthroplasty, Graft, Knee, and Osteotomy. Designed for orthopedic surgeons and residents, this interactive quiz aids in thorough preparation for AAOS/ABOS board certification.
Orthopedic Board Prep MCQs: Arthroplasty, Knee & Osteotomy | Part 16
Comprehensive 100-Question Exam
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Question 1
Which of the following is considered an absolute contraindication to a medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA)?
Explanation
Question 2
During a posterior-stabilized (PS) total knee arthroplasty, the surgeon notes that the cam of the femoral component jumps over the tibial post during deep flexion. What is the most likely cause of this complication?
Explanation
Question 3
A medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is planned for a patient with medial compartment osteoarthritis and varus deformity. If not properly controlled during the procedure, what are the classic unintended effects on tibial slope and patellar height?
Explanation
Question 4
A patient presents with mid-flexion instability following a primary total knee arthroplasty. The knee is stable in full extension and at 90 degrees of flexion, but exhibits gross anterior-posterior laxity at 45 degrees. Which of the following technical errors is most likely responsible?
Explanation
Question 5
Patellar maltracking is a common complication in total knee arthroplasty. Which combination of component positioning errors is most likely to result in lateral patellar subluxation?
Explanation
Question 6
When using the measured resection technique for total knee arthroplasty, rotational alignment of the femoral component is critical. The surgical transepicondylar axis (TEA) is defined by a line connecting which two landmarks?
Explanation
Question 7
A surgeon is planning a conversion of a previous closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) to a total knee arthroplasty. Which of the following technical challenges is most specifically anticipated compared to a primary TKA in a virgin knee?
Explanation
Question 8
A 45-year-old active laborer presents with lateral compartment knee osteoarthritis and a mechanical valgus deformity of 16 degrees. Weight-bearing radiographs reveal the deformity is primarily driven by a mechanical axis deviation in the distal femur. Which of the following is the most appropriate surgical treatment?
Explanation
Question 9
During a lateral closing wedge high tibial osteotomy, a fibular osteotomy is required to allow the tibial osteotomy to close. To minimize the risk of peroneal nerve injury, at what level should the fibular osteotomy ideally be performed?
Explanation
Question 10
Kinematic alignment in total knee arthroplasty aims to restore the patient's pre-arthritic constitutional alignment. Compared to traditional mechanical alignment, a strictly kinematically aligned TKA most typically results in the components being positioned in which manner relative to the mechanical axis?
Explanation
Question 11
A 70-year-old patient presents with an inability to actively extend the knee 3 years following a primary total knee arthroplasty. Examination and MRI confirm a chronic, retracted patellar tendon rupture with poor local tissue quality. Which of the following is the most reliable reconstructive option?
Explanation
Question 12
During trial reduction of a posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty, the knee is found to be perfectly balanced in full extension but excessively tight in 90 degrees of flexion. Which of the following surgical adjustments will best correct this imbalance?
Explanation
Question 13
Historical catastrophic early failure of total knee arthroplasty polyethylene inserts via sub-surface delamination was primarily linked to which of the following manufacturing or sterilization processes?
Explanation
Question 14
In the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI) classification for bone defects in revision total knee arthroplasty, a Type 2B defect is best described by which of the following?
Explanation
Question 15
A 65-year-old female undergoes a primary total knee arthroplasty for a severe, fixed valgus deformity (Ranawat Type II). Intraoperatively, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is found to be completely incompetent. Which of the following implant constraints is required?
Explanation
Question 16
In a cruciate-retaining (CR) total knee arthroplasty, failure to properly balance a tight posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) will most likely result in which of the following kinematic abnormalities?
Explanation
Question 17
A patient presents with a painful clunking sensation over the superior pole of the patella when extending the knee from 40 degrees of flexion, 1 year after a posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty. What is the pathognomonic cause of 'patellar clunk syndrome'?
Explanation
Question 18
Tranexamic acid (TXA) is widely used in arthroplasty to reduce blood loss. What is the primary mechanism of action of TXA?
Explanation
Question 19
During a total knee arthroplasty using a standard medial parapatellar arthrotomy, which of the following arteries provides the predominant remaining blood supply to the patella and must be preserved if a lateral retinacular release is performed?
Explanation
Question 20
Which of the following is the most common cause of failure requiring revision for a medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) at long-term follow-up (>10 years)?
Explanation
Question 21
A 45-year-old male undergoes a medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) for isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis and varus deformity. To optimize the long-term survivorship of the osteotomy and unload the medial compartment adequately, where should the postoperative weight-bearing line (WBL) be directed through the tibial plateau?
Explanation
Question 22
During a primary total knee arthroplasty, the surgeon evaluates the ligamentous tension with trial components in place. The extension gap is found to be excessively tight, while the flexion gap demonstrates appropriate tension and stability. What is the most appropriate surgical step to achieve a balanced knee?
Explanation
Question 23
A 68-year-old female presents with a feeling of knee instability particularly when standing up from a chair, 1 year after a posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty. Examination reveals stability at 0 degrees and 90 degrees, but marked laxity at 30 to 45 degrees of flexion. What is the most likely surgical cause of this complication?
Explanation
Question 24
A 65-year-old female complains of a painful "catching" sensation at the anterior aspect of her knee when extending from 45 degrees to 30 degrees of flexion, one year after undergoing a primary total knee arthroplasty. Which prosthetic design feature is most strongly associated with the development of this specific complication?
Explanation
Question 25
In revision total knee arthroplasty, an Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI) Type 3 bone defect of the proximal tibia is identified. The surgeon decides to use a highly porous tantalum metaphyseal cone. What is the primary biomechanical advantage of utilizing a metaphyseal cone in this setting?
Explanation
Question 26
A 40-year-old female presents with isolated advanced lateral patellofemoral arthritis, a tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance of 22 mm, and patella alta (Caton-Deschamps index of 1.4). Which tibial tubercle osteotomy modification is most appropriate to optimize patellofemoral tracking and contact pressures?
Explanation
Question 27
According to the 2018 International Consensus Meeting (ICM) criteria for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), which of the following synovial fluid biomarkers carries the highest weight (points) in establishing a definitive diagnosis?
Explanation
Question 28
A 72-year-old male sustains a complete patellar tendon rupture off the tibial tubercle 6 weeks following a primary total knee arthroplasty. Primary repair attempts have failed due to poor tissue quality. What is the most reliable reconstructive option that demonstrates the highest clinical success rate for extensor mechanism continuity?
Explanation
Question 29
A 60-year-old female with an extensively documented history of severe cutaneous hypersensitivity to cheap jewelry is scheduled for a primary total knee arthroplasty. Patch testing confirms a severe systemic allergy to nickel. Which femoral component material is the most appropriate choice to prevent a delayed hypersensitivity reaction?
Explanation
Question 30
In calipered kinematic alignment total knee arthroplasty, what is the primary surgical goal regarding the placement of the femoral component?
Explanation
Question 31
During a medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO), the surgeon realizes the anterior gap is inadvertently opened wider than the posterior gap. What is the direct biomechanical consequence of this asymmetric opening?
Explanation
Question 32
During the proximal tibial resection in a total knee arthroplasty, the popliteal artery is at risk of iatrogenic injury. At the level of the standard tibial cut, where is the popliteal artery most commonly located in relation to the posterior tibial plateau?
Explanation
Question 33
In revision total knee arthroplasty with severe bone loss, anatomic landmarks must be utilized to restore the native joint line. Which of the following relationships is the most reliable anatomic guide for re-establishing the distal femoral joint line?
Explanation
Question 34
During a primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the surgeon notes the knee is tight in full extension but symmetrically well-balanced at 90 degrees of flexion. Which of the following is the most appropriate surgical step to correct this mismatch?
Explanation
Question 35
During a total knee arthroplasty, trial reduction reveals that the joint is tight in flexion but symmetric and well-balanced in extension. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this mismatch?
Explanation
Question 36
Which of the following surgical steps during a primary total knee arthroplasty carries the highest risk of iatrogenic injury to the popliteal artery?
Explanation
Question 37
A 72-year-old patient with severe valgus osteoarthritis presents for a total knee arthroplasty. Intraoperative assessment reveals a completely absent and non-reconstructable medial collateral ligament (MCL). Which level of prosthetic constraint is required?
Explanation
Question 38
During a total knee arthroplasty, the tibial component is inadvertently placed in excessive internal rotation. Which of the following clinical consequences is most likely to occur?
Explanation
Question 39
An 80-year-old woman sustains a Lewis-Rorabeck Type II periprosthetic distal femur fracture (comminuted fracture with a loose femoral component) following a fall. What is the most appropriate surgical management?
Explanation
Question 40
A surgeon is performing an anteriorly based medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO). To maintain the patient's native posterior tibial slope, how should the osteotomy gap be managed?
Explanation
Question 41
A patient presents with a painful popping sensation at the superior aspect of the patella when extending the knee from a flexed position, 8 months after a primary total knee arthroplasty. This complication is most classically associated with which implant design?
Explanation
Question 42
A patient with severe lateral bowing of the femur in the coronal plane is undergoing a TKA. If a standard straight intramedullary alignment rod is used without adjustments, what will be the likely effect on the distal femoral resection?
Explanation
Question 43
A 65-year-old man presents with acute knee pain, swelling, and fever 4 weeks after an uncomplicated primary TKA. Symptoms began 2 days ago. Aspiration yields 85,000 WBC/hpf with 95% neutrophils. Implants are well-fixed radiographically. What is the treatment of choice?
Explanation
Question 44
Tranexamic acid (TXA) is routinely used in total knee arthroplasty to reduce blood loss. Which of the following best describes its primary mechanism of action?
Explanation
Question 45
A lateral opening wedge distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) is planned for a young patient with symptomatic valgus osteoarthritis. Compared to a medial closing wedge DFO, what is the expected effect on leg length?
Explanation
Question 46
During a total knee arthroplasty for a severe fixed valgus deformity, the surgeon notes that the lateral compartment remains excessively tight in flexion but is balanced in extension. Release of which structure will most effectively address this mismatch?
Explanation
Question 47
Which of the following is considered an absolute contraindication to a mobile-bearing medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA)?
Explanation
Question 48
A surgeon inadvertently overstuffs the patellofemoral joint during a total knee arthroplasty by using an excessively thick patellar component. What is the most likely clinical manifestation of this error?
Explanation
Question 49
A 68-year-old patient presents with a chronic, complete patellar tendon rupture 2 years after a primary TKA. The patient is unable to perform a straight leg raise. What is the most reliable surgical option?
Explanation
Question 50
A patient presents with severe arthrofibrosis (ROM 5 to 65 degrees) following a primary total knee arthroplasty. According to the literature, manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) is most successful when performed within what postoperative timeframe?
Explanation
Question 51
When setting the distal femoral cut angle during a TKA, the surgeon must account for the angle between the anatomical and mechanical axes. In a short patient with short femora, how does this valgus angle typically compare to a tall patient?
Explanation
Question 52
During a primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for a severe varus deformity, the surgeon evaluates the gaps after preliminary medial releases. The joint is perfectly balanced in 90 degrees of flexion, but the medial side remains significantly tighter than the lateral side in full extension. Which of the following structures should be released next to achieve balance?
Explanation
Question 53
A surgeon is performing a primary TKA on a severe valgus knee using a sequential lateral release. If the popliteus tendon is completely resected from its femoral insertion during this process, what is the most likely resulting biomechanical consequence?
Explanation
Question 54
A patient develops patellar clunk syndrome after a posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA. Which of the following technical errors during the primary surgery is most likely responsible for exacerbating this condition?
Explanation
Question 55
An 80-year-old patient presents with a massive osteolytic defect in the medial tibial metaphysis 15 years post-TKA. The cortical rim is completely deficient medially, and the tibial baseplate has subsided. According to the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI) classification, this Type 3 defect is best managed by which of the following during revision?
Explanation
None