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Hand Surgery & Upper Extremity Reconstruction Flashcards

7 cards from real ABPS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Hand Surgery & Upper Extremity Reconstruction flashcards as text

  1. Which nerve provides sensation to the palmar surface of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and radial half of the ring finger?

    Answer: Median nerve

    The median nerve supplies palmar sensation to the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of the ring finger via its digital branches.

  2. In carpal tunnel syndrome, which thenar muscle most commonly shows atrophy due to median nerve compression?

    Answer: Abductor pollicis brevis

    Abductor pollicis brevis is exclusively innervated by the recurrent branch of the median nerve and is the earliest and most prominent muscle to atrophy in CTS.

  3. Verdan's Zone II of flexor tendon injuries, sometimes called 'no man's land,' is bounded by which anatomical landmarks?

    Answer: A1 pulley to the FDS insertion at the middle phalanx

    Zone II extends from the A1 pulley to the flexor digitorum superficialis insertion, where both FDS and FDP tendons run within a tight fibro-osseous sheath, making repair technically challenging.

  4. The Moberg advancement flap used for thumb tip reconstruction is based on which vascular pedicle?

    Answer: Bilateral neurovascular bundles of the thumb

    The Moberg flap is a volar advancement flap based on both digital neurovascular bundles of the thumb, providing sensate coverage of the thumb tip.

  5. What is the initial treatment of choice for a closed mallet finger injury without significant volar subluxation of the distal phalanx?

    Answer: Continuous DIP joint extension splinting for 6–8 weeks

    Closed mallet finger without volar subluxation is managed conservatively with continuous DIP extension splinting for 6–8 weeks, which reliably restores extensor continuity.

  6. The Allen test is performed to assess patency of which vascular structures before hand surgery or arterial line placement?

    Answer: Radial and ulnar arteries supplying the palmar arch

    The Allen test compresses both the radial and ulnar arteries simultaneously, then releases each individually to confirm dual arterial supply to the hand through the palmar arch.

  7. Which Verdan zone of flexor tendon injury is located within the carpal tunnel?

    Answer: Zone IV

    Zone IV corresponds to the carpal tunnel region where the flexor tendons pass beneath the flexor retinaculum alongside the median nerve.