ABFAS BOARD EXAM 2025 ACTUAL EXAM 250 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A 25 year old ballet dancer presents with an 8 month history of ankle pain following an ankle sprain. On
physical exam there is joint swelling and radio graphs are unremarkable physical therapy and NSAIDs
have not reduced her symptoms. What is the next appropriate step in management of this patient? -
(answers)MRI
For a one-year-old patient with calcaneal valgus, what is an acceptable treatment plan? -
(answers)Manipulation and serial casting
A 25-year-old female sustained an inversion ankle sprain 24 hours ago. The area is severely edematous
and ecchymosis. Diagnostic tests reveal rupture of the lateral collateral ligaments. What should the
treatment consist of at this time? - (answers)Compression dressing 24 - 48 hours
Which lateral ankle ligaments are intracapsular/extracapsular? - (answers)ATFL - Intracapsular
CFL - Extracapsular
PTFL - Strongest, deepest, usually doesn't rupture
A 30-year-old male complains of a painful right ankle after sustaining a forced plantarflexion injury.
Plantarflexion of the foot and dorsiflexion of the hallux greatly exacerbate the symptoms. What is the
most probable diagnosis? - (answers)Fracture of the posterior tubercle of the talus.
Which procedure would be the most appropriate management strategy for treatment of a rigid flatfoot
in an infant diagnosed with a pediatric congenital vertical talus deformity? - (answers)1. Manipulation
and weekly serial casting for 5 weeks 2. Achilles tendon lengthening and TN joint pinning.
Following a tendon reconstruction of the ankle for lateral ligamentous instability a 30-year-old female
developed a deformity of the big toe. On exam she has full range of motion of the MP joint and good
ankle stability. What is the most likely diagnosis? - (answers)Use of peroneus longus tendon for
reconstruction.
, ABFAS BOARD EXAM 2025 ACTUAL EXAM 250 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
What is the first step in the open reduction and internal fixation of an ankle pilon fracture? -
(answers)Restoration of length and fixation of the fibular fracture.
A patient presents with an inversion ankle sprain. Stress inversion radio graphs reveal a 15 degree
difference between the symptomatic and asymptomatic ankle. A peroneal tenogram reveals contrast
media within the ankle joint and extravasation anterior, lateral, and distal to the lateral malleolus. These
findings are consistent with rupture of the: - (answers)ATFL
CFL
For PT tendon transfer where should the tendon go? - (answers)Under the retinaculum. Decreases
power but prevents bowstringing
Interosseous membrane incision doesn't need to be small to prevent syndesmotic injury
What makes up the syndesmosis? - (answers)AiTFL
PiTFL
Interosseous Ligament
What is the most common complication resulting from a Salter-Harris type III fracture of the distal tibia
in a 9-year-old? - (answers)Angulation
A patient sustains a comminuted calcaneal fracture. Two months after injury the patient complains of
clawing of the lesser toes and shoe gear irritation. What is most likely cause of this deformity? -
(answers)Undiagnosed compartment syndrome
Volkmann Contractures
Which of the following techniques would negatively impact function following ankle syndesmosis repair?
- (answers)Stabilization of fibula to tibial incisura parallel to frontal plane.
Posterior to anterior angle, 20-30 degrees to frontal plane
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A 25 year old ballet dancer presents with an 8 month history of ankle pain following an ankle sprain. On
physical exam there is joint swelling and radio graphs are unremarkable physical therapy and NSAIDs
have not reduced her symptoms. What is the next appropriate step in management of this patient? -
(answers)MRI
For a one-year-old patient with calcaneal valgus, what is an acceptable treatment plan? -
(answers)Manipulation and serial casting
A 25-year-old female sustained an inversion ankle sprain 24 hours ago. The area is severely edematous
and ecchymosis. Diagnostic tests reveal rupture of the lateral collateral ligaments. What should the
treatment consist of at this time? - (answers)Compression dressing 24 - 48 hours
Which lateral ankle ligaments are intracapsular/extracapsular? - (answers)ATFL - Intracapsular
CFL - Extracapsular
PTFL - Strongest, deepest, usually doesn't rupture
A 30-year-old male complains of a painful right ankle after sustaining a forced plantarflexion injury.
Plantarflexion of the foot and dorsiflexion of the hallux greatly exacerbate the symptoms. What is the
most probable diagnosis? - (answers)Fracture of the posterior tubercle of the talus.
Which procedure would be the most appropriate management strategy for treatment of a rigid flatfoot
in an infant diagnosed with a pediatric congenital vertical talus deformity? - (answers)1. Manipulation
and weekly serial casting for 5 weeks 2. Achilles tendon lengthening and TN joint pinning.
Following a tendon reconstruction of the ankle for lateral ligamentous instability a 30-year-old female
developed a deformity of the big toe. On exam she has full range of motion of the MP joint and good
ankle stability. What is the most likely diagnosis? - (answers)Use of peroneus longus tendon for
reconstruction.
, ABFAS BOARD EXAM 2025 ACTUAL EXAM 250 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
What is the first step in the open reduction and internal fixation of an ankle pilon fracture? -
(answers)Restoration of length and fixation of the fibular fracture.
A patient presents with an inversion ankle sprain. Stress inversion radio graphs reveal a 15 degree
difference between the symptomatic and asymptomatic ankle. A peroneal tenogram reveals contrast
media within the ankle joint and extravasation anterior, lateral, and distal to the lateral malleolus. These
findings are consistent with rupture of the: - (answers)ATFL
CFL
For PT tendon transfer where should the tendon go? - (answers)Under the retinaculum. Decreases
power but prevents bowstringing
Interosseous membrane incision doesn't need to be small to prevent syndesmotic injury
What makes up the syndesmosis? - (answers)AiTFL
PiTFL
Interosseous Ligament
What is the most common complication resulting from a Salter-Harris type III fracture of the distal tibia
in a 9-year-old? - (answers)Angulation
A patient sustains a comminuted calcaneal fracture. Two months after injury the patient complains of
clawing of the lesser toes and shoe gear irritation. What is most likely cause of this deformity? -
(answers)Undiagnosed compartment syndrome
Volkmann Contractures
Which of the following techniques would negatively impact function following ankle syndesmosis repair?
- (answers)Stabilization of fibula to tibial incisura parallel to frontal plane.
Posterior to anterior angle, 20-30 degrees to frontal plane
