ABFAS
TRAUMA SECTION
107 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
Correct answers with concise rationales
Foot and ankle trauma: Achilles tendon, ankle ligaments and fractures, calcaneus,
pediatric physeal injuries, open fractures, MTP dislocations, talus, burns and
Tscherne grading.
WHAT YOU WILL GET:
• Four answer choices (A-D) per question, built from closely related topics in the source
• The correct answer and a short supporting rationale for every question
• All content based solely on the ABFAS - Trauma Section study set
For study purposes only.
, Contents
Achilles Tendon Rupture Questions 1-13
Ankle Anatomy and Lateral Ankle Stabilization Questions 14-25
Ankle Fractures and Syndesmotic Injuries Questions 26-29
Lauge-Hansen Classification Questions 30-44
Fibular Fixation and Tibiofibular Transfixation Questions 45-48
Calcaneal Fractures and Compartment Syndrome Questions 49-56
Closed Reduction and Suture Selection Questions 57-59
Pediatric Fractures and the Physis Questions 60-70
Open Fractures and Soft Tissue Injury Questions 71-77
First MTP Joint Dislocations Questions 78-83
Talus: Osteochondral Lesions and Neck Fractures Questions 84-96
Thermal Injuries (Burns) Questions 97-103
Tscherne Soft Tissue Injury Classification Questions 104-107
ABFAS - Trauma Section | Page 2
, Achilles Tendon Rupture
QUESTION 1
Achilles tendon rupture is most likely to occur in which type of athlete?
A. Marathon runners
B. Skiers
C. Long-distance walkers
D. Sprinters
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Sprinters
Rationale: Per the ABFAS trauma review, Achilles tendon rupture is likely to occur in sprinters. The
other groups listed are not identified in the reference as the typical population for this injury.
QUESTION 2
The gastroc-soleal complex is innervated by which nerve?
A. Superficial peroneal nerve (L5-S1)
B. Deep peroneal nerve (L4-L5)
C. Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
D. Tibial nerve (S1-S2)
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Tibial nerve (S1-S2)
Rationale: The gastroc-soleal complex is innervated by the tibial nerve (S1-S2). The other nerves listed
are not the nerve supply to this muscle group.
QUESTION 3
Which muscle runs between the gastrocnemius and soleus and assists in plantarflexion of the foot and
flexion of the knee?
A. Flexor hallucis longus
B. Plantaris
C. Flexor digitorum longus
D. Tibialis posterior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Plantaris
Rationale: The plantaris runs between the gastrocnemius and soleus and assists plantarflexion of the
foot and flexion of the knee. FHL, FDL and tibialis posterior are tendons mentioned elsewhere in the
reference, not this muscle.
ABFAS - Trauma Section | Page 3
, QUESTION 4
What is the nerve root innervation of the plantaris?
A. S2, S3, S4
B. L4, L5, S1
C. S1, S2
D. L2, L3, L4
CORRECT ANSWER: B. L4, L5, S1
Rationale: The plantaris is innervated by L4, L5, S1. S1-S2 is the tibial nerve supply to the
gastroc-soleal complex, which is a different muscle group.
QUESTION 5
Where is the narrowest part of the Achilles tendon located?
A. 6 cm proximal to its insertion
B. 4 cm proximal to its insertion
C. 2 cm proximal to its insertion
D. 10 cm proximal to its insertion
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 cm proximal to its insertion
Rationale: The tendon is narrowest 4 cm proximal to its insertion. This lies within the 2-6 cm watershed
zone where ruptures typically occur.
QUESTION 6
At what anatomical location does an Achilles tendon rupture most likely occur?
A. 2-6 cm proximal to the attachment (watershed area), more commonly in the left lower extremity
B. At the musculotendinous junction, 10 cm proximal to the insertion
C. 8-10 cm proximal to the attachment, equally in both limbs
D. At the calcaneal insertion, more commonly in the right lower extremity
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 2-6 cm proximal to the attachment (watershed area), more commonly in the
left lower extremity
Rationale: Ruptures occur 2-6 cm proximal to the attachment in the watershed (poorly vascularized)
area. The left side is more often involved because right-handed individuals more commonly push off
with the left foot.
ABFAS - Trauma Section | Page 4
TRAUMA SECTION
107 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
Correct answers with concise rationales
Foot and ankle trauma: Achilles tendon, ankle ligaments and fractures, calcaneus,
pediatric physeal injuries, open fractures, MTP dislocations, talus, burns and
Tscherne grading.
WHAT YOU WILL GET:
• Four answer choices (A-D) per question, built from closely related topics in the source
• The correct answer and a short supporting rationale for every question
• All content based solely on the ABFAS - Trauma Section study set
For study purposes only.
, Contents
Achilles Tendon Rupture Questions 1-13
Ankle Anatomy and Lateral Ankle Stabilization Questions 14-25
Ankle Fractures and Syndesmotic Injuries Questions 26-29
Lauge-Hansen Classification Questions 30-44
Fibular Fixation and Tibiofibular Transfixation Questions 45-48
Calcaneal Fractures and Compartment Syndrome Questions 49-56
Closed Reduction and Suture Selection Questions 57-59
Pediatric Fractures and the Physis Questions 60-70
Open Fractures and Soft Tissue Injury Questions 71-77
First MTP Joint Dislocations Questions 78-83
Talus: Osteochondral Lesions and Neck Fractures Questions 84-96
Thermal Injuries (Burns) Questions 97-103
Tscherne Soft Tissue Injury Classification Questions 104-107
ABFAS - Trauma Section | Page 2
, Achilles Tendon Rupture
QUESTION 1
Achilles tendon rupture is most likely to occur in which type of athlete?
A. Marathon runners
B. Skiers
C. Long-distance walkers
D. Sprinters
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Sprinters
Rationale: Per the ABFAS trauma review, Achilles tendon rupture is likely to occur in sprinters. The
other groups listed are not identified in the reference as the typical population for this injury.
QUESTION 2
The gastroc-soleal complex is innervated by which nerve?
A. Superficial peroneal nerve (L5-S1)
B. Deep peroneal nerve (L4-L5)
C. Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
D. Tibial nerve (S1-S2)
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Tibial nerve (S1-S2)
Rationale: The gastroc-soleal complex is innervated by the tibial nerve (S1-S2). The other nerves listed
are not the nerve supply to this muscle group.
QUESTION 3
Which muscle runs between the gastrocnemius and soleus and assists in plantarflexion of the foot and
flexion of the knee?
A. Flexor hallucis longus
B. Plantaris
C. Flexor digitorum longus
D. Tibialis posterior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Plantaris
Rationale: The plantaris runs between the gastrocnemius and soleus and assists plantarflexion of the
foot and flexion of the knee. FHL, FDL and tibialis posterior are tendons mentioned elsewhere in the
reference, not this muscle.
ABFAS - Trauma Section | Page 3
, QUESTION 4
What is the nerve root innervation of the plantaris?
A. S2, S3, S4
B. L4, L5, S1
C. S1, S2
D. L2, L3, L4
CORRECT ANSWER: B. L4, L5, S1
Rationale: The plantaris is innervated by L4, L5, S1. S1-S2 is the tibial nerve supply to the
gastroc-soleal complex, which is a different muscle group.
QUESTION 5
Where is the narrowest part of the Achilles tendon located?
A. 6 cm proximal to its insertion
B. 4 cm proximal to its insertion
C. 2 cm proximal to its insertion
D. 10 cm proximal to its insertion
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 4 cm proximal to its insertion
Rationale: The tendon is narrowest 4 cm proximal to its insertion. This lies within the 2-6 cm watershed
zone where ruptures typically occur.
QUESTION 6
At what anatomical location does an Achilles tendon rupture most likely occur?
A. 2-6 cm proximal to the attachment (watershed area), more commonly in the left lower extremity
B. At the musculotendinous junction, 10 cm proximal to the insertion
C. 8-10 cm proximal to the attachment, equally in both limbs
D. At the calcaneal insertion, more commonly in the right lower extremity
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 2-6 cm proximal to the attachment (watershed area), more commonly in the
left lower extremity
Rationale: Ruptures occur 2-6 cm proximal to the attachment in the watershed (poorly vascularized)
area. The left side is more often involved because right-handed individuals more commonly push off
with the left foot.
ABFAS - Trauma Section | Page 4
