ABFAS BOARD EXAM PREPARATION 2026
ACTUAL EXAMINATION TEST COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
⩥ What can prevent graft failure during surgery? Answer: Using a mesh
graft and applying compression
⩥ What complication arises from failing to overdrill a fully threaded lag
screw? Answer: Lack of compression
⩥ What causes distraction instead of compression with a partially
threaded screw? Answer: Screw threads engaging both proximal and
distal fragments
⩥ Why is one-third of the lateral band left intact during a plantra
fasciotomy? Answer: To prevent calcaneocuboid syndrome
⩥ What type of biopsy is indicated when a 2cm x 2cm skin lesion shows
tumor along the margins? Answer: Incisional biopsy
⩥ What condition may require the removal of both sesamoids? Answer:
Hallux malleus
,⩥ How does incisional placement parallel to cleavage lines affect
scarring? Answer: It increases skin scarring
⩥ What is the best management for a patient with intense pain after K-
wire fixation of toes? Answer: Inform the patient that a second surgery is
required to re-fixate the 3rd and 4th toes
⩥ What structure's resection during a dorsal approach to a 3rd interspace
neuroma can lead to hammertoe deformities? Answer: Deep transverse
intermetatarsal ligament
⩥ What nerve is likely damaged during excision of a plantar fibroma if
the patient experiences hyperextension of the hallux and toes? Answer:
Medial plantar nerve
⩥ What defines a nonunion in fracture healing? Answer: Absent callus
with intact vascularity, occurring after major displacement without
apposition
⩥ What is the likely reason for resolution of a radiopaque area on X-ray
after partial nail avulsion? Answer: Removal of silver nitrate
⩥ What complication is least likely after a poorly fixated closing base
wedge osteotomy? Answer: Hallux varus
,⩥ What is the most common long-term complication of a SCARF
osteotomy? Answer: Troughing of the metatarsal shaft
⩥ What condition may result from accidental release of the deep deltoid
during clubfoot correction? Answer: Pes planus
⩥ What is the most common cause of failed tarsal tunnel surgery?
Answer: Inadequate decompression
⩥ What structure is implicated in sub metatarsal 2 pain following ORIF?
Answer: Peroneus longus tendon
⩥ What is the most common complication following ORIF of a
displaced talar neck fracture? Answer: Post traumatic arthritis
⩥ Where is the plantar cutaneous nerve commonly found during tibial
sesamoidectomy? Answer: Along the inferior border of the abductor
hallucis brevis tendon
⩥ What is the calculated toxic dose of lidocaine (without epinephrine)
for a 60kg patient? Answer: 270 mg
⩥ What is a likely cause of fever 12 hours after a Lisfranc ORIF?
Answer: Pulmonary atelectasis
, ⩥ What additional imaging is important for a patient with a suspected
injury after an 8-foot fall? Answer: Spin radiograph
⩥ What structure should be carefully dissected to avoid damage during a
lapidus procedure? Answer: Tibialis anterior tendon
⩥ What can cause pseudarthrosis after a fracture? Answer: Post-injury
inflammation
⩥ What is the most commonly reported complication following a Weil
osteotomy? Answer: Floating toe
⩥ What structure is likely damaged if the 2nd digit abducts towards the
3rd digit after a lateral release? Answer: 1st dorsal interossei
⩥ What occurs in neurotmesis? Answer: Complete disruption of the
axon, Schwann cell, and endoneurial tubes
⩥ What is neuropraxia? Answer: A lesser injury with the endoneurial
structure intact, often having a better prognosis for axonal regrowth.
⩥ What is the most common fungal pathogen found in infected hardware
and implants? Answer: Candida
ACTUAL EXAMINATION TEST COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
⩥ What can prevent graft failure during surgery? Answer: Using a mesh
graft and applying compression
⩥ What complication arises from failing to overdrill a fully threaded lag
screw? Answer: Lack of compression
⩥ What causes distraction instead of compression with a partially
threaded screw? Answer: Screw threads engaging both proximal and
distal fragments
⩥ Why is one-third of the lateral band left intact during a plantra
fasciotomy? Answer: To prevent calcaneocuboid syndrome
⩥ What type of biopsy is indicated when a 2cm x 2cm skin lesion shows
tumor along the margins? Answer: Incisional biopsy
⩥ What condition may require the removal of both sesamoids? Answer:
Hallux malleus
,⩥ How does incisional placement parallel to cleavage lines affect
scarring? Answer: It increases skin scarring
⩥ What is the best management for a patient with intense pain after K-
wire fixation of toes? Answer: Inform the patient that a second surgery is
required to re-fixate the 3rd and 4th toes
⩥ What structure's resection during a dorsal approach to a 3rd interspace
neuroma can lead to hammertoe deformities? Answer: Deep transverse
intermetatarsal ligament
⩥ What nerve is likely damaged during excision of a plantar fibroma if
the patient experiences hyperextension of the hallux and toes? Answer:
Medial plantar nerve
⩥ What defines a nonunion in fracture healing? Answer: Absent callus
with intact vascularity, occurring after major displacement without
apposition
⩥ What is the likely reason for resolution of a radiopaque area on X-ray
after partial nail avulsion? Answer: Removal of silver nitrate
⩥ What complication is least likely after a poorly fixated closing base
wedge osteotomy? Answer: Hallux varus
,⩥ What is the most common long-term complication of a SCARF
osteotomy? Answer: Troughing of the metatarsal shaft
⩥ What condition may result from accidental release of the deep deltoid
during clubfoot correction? Answer: Pes planus
⩥ What is the most common cause of failed tarsal tunnel surgery?
Answer: Inadequate decompression
⩥ What structure is implicated in sub metatarsal 2 pain following ORIF?
Answer: Peroneus longus tendon
⩥ What is the most common complication following ORIF of a
displaced talar neck fracture? Answer: Post traumatic arthritis
⩥ Where is the plantar cutaneous nerve commonly found during tibial
sesamoidectomy? Answer: Along the inferior border of the abductor
hallucis brevis tendon
⩥ What is the calculated toxic dose of lidocaine (without epinephrine)
for a 60kg patient? Answer: 270 mg
⩥ What is a likely cause of fever 12 hours after a Lisfranc ORIF?
Answer: Pulmonary atelectasis
, ⩥ What additional imaging is important for a patient with a suspected
injury after an 8-foot fall? Answer: Spin radiograph
⩥ What structure should be carefully dissected to avoid damage during a
lapidus procedure? Answer: Tibialis anterior tendon
⩥ What can cause pseudarthrosis after a fracture? Answer: Post-injury
inflammation
⩥ What is the most commonly reported complication following a Weil
osteotomy? Answer: Floating toe
⩥ What structure is likely damaged if the 2nd digit abducts towards the
3rd digit after a lateral release? Answer: 1st dorsal interossei
⩥ What occurs in neurotmesis? Answer: Complete disruption of the
axon, Schwann cell, and endoneurial tubes
⩥ What is neuropraxia? Answer: A lesser injury with the endoneurial
structure intact, often having a better prognosis for axonal regrowth.
⩥ What is the most common fungal pathogen found in infected hardware
and implants? Answer: Candida
