NEET PG Orthopaedics Syllabus

Orthopaedics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Orthopaedics in NEET PG, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   General Orthopaedics

   3 topics

   • Introduction to Orthopaedics
     • History, scope, and importance in medical practice
   • Basic Principles of Orthopaedic Examination
     • History taking
     • Physical examination
     • Assessment of musculoskeletal function
   • Imaging Modalities in Orthopaedics
     • X-ray
     • CT scan
     • MRI
     • Ultrasound
     • Nuclear medicine imaging
2. 2

   Trauma and Fractures

   4 topics

   • Classification of fractures
     • Open vs. closed fractures
     • Displaced vs. nondisplaced fractures
     • Complete vs. incomplete fractures
   • Principles of fracture management
     • Closed reduction
     • Open reduction
     • Internal fixation
     • External fixation
     • Plaster immobilization
   • Complications of fractures
     • Delayed union
     • Nonunion
     • Malunion
     • Compartment syndrome
     • Infection
   • Fracture healing
     • Phases of fracture healing
     • Factors influencing healing
     • Principles of fracture fixation
3. 3

   Orthopaedic Disorders of the Upper Limb

   3 topics

   • Shoulder disorders
     • Rotator cuff injuries
     • Shoulder dislocation
     • Adhesive capsulitis
     • Shoulder impingement syndrome
   • Elbow disorders
     • Tennis elbow
     • Golfer's elbow
     • Elbow instability
   • Hand and wrist disorders
     • Carpal tunnel syndrome
     • Trigger finger
     • Dupuytren's contracture
     • De Quervain's tenosynovitis
4. 4

   Orthopaedic Disorders of the Lower Limb

   3 topics

   • Hip disorders
     • Osteoarthritis
     • avascular necrosis of the hip
     • hip fractures
     • hip dysplasia
   • Knee disorders
     • Osteoarthritis
     • meniscal injuries
     • ligamentous injuries (ACL, PCL)
     • patellofemoral syndrome
   • Ankle and foot disorders
     • Ankle sprain
     • Achilles tendon rupture
     • plantar fasciitis
     • hallux valgus (bunion)
5. 5

   Pediatric Orthopaedics

   3 topics

   • Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
     • Screening
     • Diagnosis
     • Management of DDH in infants and children
   • Congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
     • Classification
     • Ponseti method
     • Surgical correction
   • Developmental disorders of the spine
     • Scoliosis
     • Kyphosis
     • Congenital vertebral anomalies
6. 6

   Orthopaedic Oncology

   3 topics

   • Primary Bone Tumors
     • Osteosarcoma
     • Chondrosarcoma
     • Ewing's Sarcoma
     • Giant Cell Tumor
   • Metastatic Bone Disease
     • Pathophysiology
     • Clinical Presentation
     • Management of Bone Metastases
   • Soft Tissue Tumors
     • Lipoma
     • Fibroma
     • Synovial Sarcoma
     • Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma
7. 7

   Sports Medicine

   3 topics

   • Sports-related injuries
     • Muscle strains
     • Ligament sprains
     • Tendonitis
     • Stress fractures
   • Overuse injuries
     • Runner's knee
     • Shin splints
     • Tennis elbow
     • Stress fractures
   • Rehabilitation and return to play
     • Physiotherapy
     • Strengthening exercises
     • Gradual progression of activities
8. 8

   Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy

   3 topics

   • Principles of orthopaedic rehabilitation
     • Range of motion exercises
     • Strengthening exercises
     • Proprioceptive training
   • Modalities in orthopaedic physiotherapy
     • Heat therapy
     • Cold therapy
     • Ultrasound therapy
     • Electrical stimulation
     • Traction
   • Postoperative rehabilitation
     • Rehabilitation protocols following orthopaedic surgeries
     • Joint replacement
     • Ligament reconstruction
     • Fracture fixation
9. 9

   Orthopaedic Surgery Techniques

   3 topics

   • Arthroscopic Surgery
     • Indications
     • Techniques
     • Complications of arthroscopic procedures in various joints
   • Joint Replacement Surgery
     • Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
     • Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
     • Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA)
   • Spinal Surgery
     • Decompression Procedures
     • Spinal Fusion
     • Instrumentation Techniques in the Management of Spinal Disorders
10. 10

    Orthopaedic Research and Evidence-Based Practice

    2 topics

    • Basics of orthopaedic research
      • Study design
      • Data collection
      • Statistical analysis
      • Interpretation of research findings
    • Evidence-based orthopaedics
      • Critical appraisal of research literature
      • Application of evidence-based guidelines
      • Practice-based learning

Orthopaedics flashcards for NEET PG

22 of 53 cards from the Orthopaedics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the difference between orthopaedics as a specialty and its original etymological meaning?

   Orthopaedics derives from Greek 'orthos' (straight) and 'paidion' (child), originally meaning correction of deformities in children; today it is the surgical and medical specialty dealing with the entire musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves) in all ages.

2. In orthopaedic examination, what does the 'Look, Feel, Move' sequence refer to?

   It is the standard inspection order: Look (inspection for swelling, deformity, scars, wasting, attitude), Feel (palpation for tenderness, warmth, crepitus, effusion), and Move (active then passive range of motion, plus special tests).

3. What is the difference between a true leg length and an apparent leg length measurement?

   True length is measured from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the medial malleolus and reflects real bone shortening; apparent length is measured from a fixed midline point (umbilicus/xiphisternum) to the medial malleolus and reflects shortening due to pelvic tilt or fixed adduction/abduction deformity.

4. What does a positive Trendelenburg test indicate?

   When standing on the affected leg, the pelvis drops on the opposite (unsupported) side, indicating weakness or insufficiency of the hip abductors (gluteus medius/minimus), as seen in superior gluteal nerve palsy, DDH, or hip arthritis.

5. In orthopaedic imaging, why is the 'rule of twos' applied to plain radiographs?

   Always obtain two views (usually at right angles, e.g., AP and lateral), include the two joints (above and below a long-bone fracture), at two times if needed (repeat films), and compare with the opposite side in two limbs in children.

6. Which imaging modality is the investigation of choice for soft tissue, ligament, cartilage, and bone marrow pathology in orthopaedics?

   MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), due to its superior soft-tissue contrast for menisci, ligaments, cartilage, marrow oedema, osteomyelitis, and tumours.

7. What is the best imaging modality for assessing complex fracture geometry and cortical bone detail?

   CT scan, which provides detailed bony anatomy and is used for intra-articular, pelvic, spinal, and comminuted fractures, often with 3D reconstruction for preoperative planning.

8. Define a 'greenstick' fracture and in whom it typically occurs.

   An incomplete fracture in which one cortex breaks and the other bends (buckles); it occurs in children because their bones are softer and more elastic than adult bone.

9. What is the difference between a simple (closed) and a compound (open) fracture?

   In a closed fracture the overlying skin is intact; in an open (compound) fracture the bone communicates with the external environment through a skin breach, greatly increasing the risk of infection.

10. What does the Gustilo-Anderson classification grade, and what distinguishes type III?

    It grades open fractures by wound size and soft-tissue/contamination severity. Type I <1 cm clean; Type II 1–10 cm moderate soft-tissue damage; Type III >10 cm or severe — IIIA adequate soft-tissue coverage, IIIB extensive periosteal stripping needing flap, IIIC associated arterial injury requiring repair.

11. What does the Salter-Harris classification describe, and what is the mnemonic for its five types?

    It classifies physeal (growth-plate) fractures in children. Mnemonic SALTR: I = Slipped (through physis), II = Above (metaphysis, most common), III = Lower (epiphysis), IV = Through (metaphysis+physis+epiphysis), V = Rammed/cRush (compression of physis, worst prognosis).

12. State the four R's that summarise the principles of fracture management.

    Resuscitation (and recognition), Reduction (restore alignment), Retention/Restriction (immobilise/hold the reduction), and Rehabilitation (restore function).

13. What is the difference between closed reduction and open reduction of a fracture?

    Closed reduction restores alignment by manipulation without surgically exposing the fracture; open reduction surgically exposes the fracture to align fragments directly, usually combined with internal fixation (ORIF).

14. What does the AO principle of 'absolute stability' produce in terms of bone healing?

    Absolute stability (anatomical reduction with interfragmentary compression, e.g., lag screw + plate) produces primary (direct) bone healing with no visible callus, via cutting cones and Haversian remodelling.

15. Name the components and timing of the four stages of secondary fracture healing.

    1) Haematoma/inflammation (hours–days), 2) Soft callus / fibrocartilage formation (days–weeks), 3) Hard callus / bony callus by endochondral and intramembranous ossification (weeks), 4) Remodelling (months–years) restoring lamellar bone along stress lines per Wolff's law.

16. What is the difference between primary and secondary fracture healing?

    Primary (direct) healing occurs under absolute stability with rigid fixation, with no callus, via Haversian remodelling across the gap. Secondary (indirect) healing occurs with relative stability/micromotion and proceeds through callus formation and endochondral ossification.

17. Define delayed union, non-union, and malunion.

    Delayed union: fracture takes longer than expected to unite but is still progressing. Non-union: union has failed and healing has stopped (atrophic = poor vascularity; hypertrophic = excessive motion with good vascularity). Malunion: fracture heals in an unacceptable position (angulation, rotation, shortening).

18. What is compartment syndrome and what are its classic early clinical signs?

    A surgical emergency where raised pressure within a fascial compartment compromises perfusion. Earliest and most reliable sign is pain out of proportion and pain on passive stretch; the '6 Ps' (pain, pallor, paraesthesia, paralysis, pulselessness, poikilothermia) appear later — pulselessness is a late, ominous sign. Treatment is urgent fasciotomy.

19. What is Volkmann's ischaemic contracture and which injury classically causes it?

    A permanent flexion contracture of the hand and wrist from ischaemic necrosis of forearm muscles following untreated compartment syndrome, classically after a supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children injuring the brachial artery.

20. What is fat embolism syndrome and its classic triad?

    A complication usually 24–72 hours after long-bone or pelvic fractures, where fat globules enter circulation. Classic triad: respiratory distress (hypoxia), neurological changes (confusion), and a petechial rash (axilla, conjunctiva, chest).

21. Which nerve is most commonly injured in a surgical neck of humerus fracture or anterior shoulder dislocation, and what is the deficit?

    The axillary nerve, causing deltoid weakness (impaired abduction) and loss of sensation over the 'regimental badge' area of the lateral shoulder.

22. What is the most common type of shoulder dislocation and the classic mechanism?

    Anterior (subcoracoid) dislocation, accounting for ~95% of cases, typically from a fall on an abducted, externally rotated, extended arm; associated lesions include Bankart (anteroinferior labrum) and Hill-Sachs (posterolateral humeral head).

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