ABPS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ABPS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Pierre Robin sequence is defined by which triad of findings? → Micrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate
2. When counseling a patient preoperatively for breast reduction, which symptom assessment is most important for insurance authorization? → Neck and back pain documentation
3. Which foundational principle is MOST important for success in American Board of Physician Specialties Certification? → Commitment to continuous learning, ethical practice, and quality outcomes
4. When a ABPS professional faces pressure to compromise professional standards, the BEST response is to: → Document the pressure and uphold professional standards
5. The thoracodorsal nerve innervates which muscle used in reconstructive surgery? → Latissimus dorsi
6. Dupuytren's contracture most commonly involves which digit first? → Ring finger
7. In American Board of Physician Specialties Certification, what is the PRIMARY purpose of conducting regular safety drills and exercises? → To ensure personnel can respond effectively in emergencies
8. What is the MOST effective way for new ABPS professionals to build competency? → Combining formal education, mentored practice, and ongoing professional development
9. A patient presents with induration, erythema, and papules 3 weeks after calcium hydroxylapatite filler injection. The most appropriate treatment is: → Intralesional corticosteroids and possibly 5-fluorouracil for biofilm-associated granuloma
10. The 'golden period' for primary nerve repair following sharp laceration is generally considered to be within: → 24 hours of injury
11. Which clinical test is specifically used to evaluate triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears? → Ulnar fovea sign
12. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis for severe micrognathia in neonates activates bone regeneration in which phase? → Distraction phase during active lengthening
13. Which nerve is at greatest risk during elevation of a radial forearm free flap? → Radial nerve superficial branch
14. Which scenario represents a violation of the American Board of Physician Specialties Certification code of professional conduct? → Misrepresenting qualifications or certification status
15. When a ABPS professional faces pressure to compromise professional standards, the BEST response is to: → Document the pressure and uphold professional standards
16. Which practice best exemplifies the ethical principle of justice in a plastic surgery practice? → Providing pro bono care or reduced fees to underserved populations
17. Tessier's classification system organizes craniofacial clefts along which anatomical axes? → Numbered clefts 0–14 running through soft tissue and skeleton
18. A plastic surgeon is asked to provide expert witness testimony in a malpractice case. According to professional ethics, the surgeon must: → Provide honest, objective testimony based on accepted standards of care
19. Which of the following is a common complication of aesthetic procedures? → Infection and poor wound healing
20. What is the PRIMARY purpose of obtaining ABPS certification in American Board of Physician Specialties Certification? → To demonstrate verified competency and adherence to professional standards
21. In a TRAM flap reconstruction, Zone IV refers to which area of the flap? → Contralateral zone farthest from the pedicle with least reliable perfusion
22. What documentation is MOST critical to maintain for safety compliance in the American Board of Physician Specialties Certification field? → Incident reports, training records, and inspection logs
23. In the Wise-pattern (anchor scar) reduction mammaplasty, which pedicle provides the best nipple vascularity for large reductions? → Inferior pedicle
24. Which craniosynostosis syndrome is associated with mitten-hand deformity (complex syndactyly of fingers 2–4)? → Apert syndrome
25. In lower extremity reconstruction using the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, the perforators most commonly arise from which source vessel? → Lateral circumflex femoral artery descending branch
26. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) principle applies to ALL ABPS certified professionals regardless of their specific role? → PPE must be properly fitted, maintained, and replaced as needed
27. The nasolabial flap used for oral cavity reconstruction is supplied by perforators from which artery? → Facial artery
28. Which factor carries the greatest prognostic significance in high-pressure injection injuries of the hand? → Type of injected material
29. The blood supply to a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap is based on which vessels? → Superior epigastric vessels
30. What is the MOST effective way for new ABPS professionals to build competency? → Combining formal education, mentored practice, and ongoing professional development