ABFAS Review Exam Complete Questions And
Answers Updated 2024/2025
18 y/o gymnast substance acute inversion ankle injury and ruptures her lateral collateral ligaments
(a)NWB 6 weeks, ankle Brace
(b)Ankle bracing followed by aggressive PT 12 weeks
(c)Early functional rehab program
(d)NWB x8 weeks followed by PT
(c) Early functional rehab program
Patient is a 45 y/o male performing a triple arthrodesis he has 6 degrees of tibial varum what is the
appropriate position for the calcaneus to the tibia to be in this position?
(a)4 Degrees Everted
(b)6 Degrees Everted
(c)8 Degrees Everted
(d)10 Degrees Everted
(c)8 Degrees Everted
Performing a triple arthrodesis if you translate the talus anteriorly on the calcaneus what would be
the effect?
(a)Anterior talus will plantarflex the forefoot increase the arch height
(b)Anterior talus will dorsiflex the forefoot and increase arch height
(c)Anterior talus will plantarflex the forefoot and decrease arch height
(d)Anterior talus will dorsiflex the forefoot and decrease the arch height
(a)Anterior talus will plantarflex the forefoot increase the arch height
You are performing a pantalar arthrodesis. The patient is a smoker and you are concerned about a
nonunion. Which joint has the highest risk of nonunion?
(A)CCJ
(B)TNJ
(C)Ankle
(D)STJ
(C)Ankle
You are performing a triple arthrodesis which joint would you prep last and fixate first?
(A)TNJ
(B)CCJ
(C)STJ
(D)Ankle
(C)STJ
You are performing a lateral subtalar arthrodesis, which structure do you incise in order to access the
joint?
(A) ATFL
(B) CFL
(C) PTFL
(D) Bifurcate ligament
(B) CFL
You are performing a STJ arthrodesis what is the hardest deformity to fix
(A) Varus
,(B) Valgus
(C) Sagittal Plane
(D) Transverse plane
(A) Varus
You are performing an ankle arthrodesis on a patient you make a mistake with positioning of the
arthrodesis, which position would be best to have the foot in?
(A)5 Degrees Plantarflexed
(B)5 Degrees Dorsiflexed
(C)5 mm Anteriorly Offset
(D)6 degrees of valgus
(B)5 Degrees Dorsiflexed
You are with a certain attending who fuses the ankle in a plantarflexed position, what would be the
complication with this positioning?
(A) Shoulder drop on the affected side
(B) Supination of the affected extremity
(C) Pronation of the contralateral extremity
(D) Vaulting gait
(D) Vaulting gait
What would be a contraindication to Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis?
(A)Severe Inflammatory Arthritis
(B)Endstage arthritis with extensive osteophytes
(C)BMI 35
(D)15 degrees of ankle varus
(D)15 degrees of ankle varus
Also 5 degrees of varus. 10 degrees varus/valgus for TAR contraindication
You are performing a triple arthrodesis. You put the patient in varus by accident. What would be the
most common complication ?
(A) Ankle Arthritis
(B) Lateral Column Pain
(C) Lateral ankle instability
(D) Plantar Fasciitis
(B) Lateral Column Pain
Patient has a calcaneal fracture with a massive lateral wall blowout. What is the most common
complication for a poor reduction?
(A)Nonunion
(B)Lateral Column Instability
(C)Peroneal Tendonitis
(D)Sural Neuritis
(C)Peroneal Tendonitis
Patient has a 4 cm rupture of the achilles tendon you repair the rupture what is the most common
complication?
(A)Re-rupture
(B)Infection
(C)Weakness
, (D)Dehiscence
(D)Dehiscence
You are doing a medial subtalar joint dissection approach. Which structure do you not incise?
(A)Superficial Deltoid
(B)Deep Deltoid
(C)Posterior Tibialis
(D)Interosseous Ligament
(B)Deep Deltoid
You wish to block factor II which medication does this?
(A)Pradaxa
(B)Eliquis
(C)Brilinta
(D)Plavix
(A)Pradaxa
In performing a posteromedial release for a congenital clubfoot deformity, what is the most
important joint to release to prevent recurrence of the deformity?
•A. ankle.
•B. subtalar.
•C. talonavicular.
•D. calcaneocuboid.
C. talonavicular
For a severe rigid and painful talipes equinovarus in an adult, what primary surgical approach is
contraindicated? (note negative format)
•A. soft-tissue release and tendon transfer.
•B. talectomy and foot-to-leg arthrodesis.
•C. tarsal osteotomies.
•D. triple arthrodesis.
A. soft-tissue release and tendon transfer
In a six-month-old child, aggressive casting for the equinus component of a clubfoot deformity may
result in which of the following conditions?
•A. dislocation of the ankle.
•B. subluxation of the midtarsal joint.
•C. compression of the subtalar joint.
•D. rupture of posterior talotibialligament.
B. subluxation of the midtarsal joint
For a one-year-old patient with calcaneal valgus, what is an acceptable treatment plan?
•A. manipulation only.
•B. manipulation with serial casting.
•C. soft-tissue release.
•D. arthroereisis.
•E. triple arthrodesis at skeletal maturity.
B. manipulation with serial casting
For Talipes equinovarus select a statement that is true:
Answers Updated 2024/2025
18 y/o gymnast substance acute inversion ankle injury and ruptures her lateral collateral ligaments
(a)NWB 6 weeks, ankle Brace
(b)Ankle bracing followed by aggressive PT 12 weeks
(c)Early functional rehab program
(d)NWB x8 weeks followed by PT
(c) Early functional rehab program
Patient is a 45 y/o male performing a triple arthrodesis he has 6 degrees of tibial varum what is the
appropriate position for the calcaneus to the tibia to be in this position?
(a)4 Degrees Everted
(b)6 Degrees Everted
(c)8 Degrees Everted
(d)10 Degrees Everted
(c)8 Degrees Everted
Performing a triple arthrodesis if you translate the talus anteriorly on the calcaneus what would be
the effect?
(a)Anterior talus will plantarflex the forefoot increase the arch height
(b)Anterior talus will dorsiflex the forefoot and increase arch height
(c)Anterior talus will plantarflex the forefoot and decrease arch height
(d)Anterior talus will dorsiflex the forefoot and decrease the arch height
(a)Anterior talus will plantarflex the forefoot increase the arch height
You are performing a pantalar arthrodesis. The patient is a smoker and you are concerned about a
nonunion. Which joint has the highest risk of nonunion?
(A)CCJ
(B)TNJ
(C)Ankle
(D)STJ
(C)Ankle
You are performing a triple arthrodesis which joint would you prep last and fixate first?
(A)TNJ
(B)CCJ
(C)STJ
(D)Ankle
(C)STJ
You are performing a lateral subtalar arthrodesis, which structure do you incise in order to access the
joint?
(A) ATFL
(B) CFL
(C) PTFL
(D) Bifurcate ligament
(B) CFL
You are performing a STJ arthrodesis what is the hardest deformity to fix
(A) Varus
,(B) Valgus
(C) Sagittal Plane
(D) Transverse plane
(A) Varus
You are performing an ankle arthrodesis on a patient you make a mistake with positioning of the
arthrodesis, which position would be best to have the foot in?
(A)5 Degrees Plantarflexed
(B)5 Degrees Dorsiflexed
(C)5 mm Anteriorly Offset
(D)6 degrees of valgus
(B)5 Degrees Dorsiflexed
You are with a certain attending who fuses the ankle in a plantarflexed position, what would be the
complication with this positioning?
(A) Shoulder drop on the affected side
(B) Supination of the affected extremity
(C) Pronation of the contralateral extremity
(D) Vaulting gait
(D) Vaulting gait
What would be a contraindication to Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis?
(A)Severe Inflammatory Arthritis
(B)Endstage arthritis with extensive osteophytes
(C)BMI 35
(D)15 degrees of ankle varus
(D)15 degrees of ankle varus
Also 5 degrees of varus. 10 degrees varus/valgus for TAR contraindication
You are performing a triple arthrodesis. You put the patient in varus by accident. What would be the
most common complication ?
(A) Ankle Arthritis
(B) Lateral Column Pain
(C) Lateral ankle instability
(D) Plantar Fasciitis
(B) Lateral Column Pain
Patient has a calcaneal fracture with a massive lateral wall blowout. What is the most common
complication for a poor reduction?
(A)Nonunion
(B)Lateral Column Instability
(C)Peroneal Tendonitis
(D)Sural Neuritis
(C)Peroneal Tendonitis
Patient has a 4 cm rupture of the achilles tendon you repair the rupture what is the most common
complication?
(A)Re-rupture
(B)Infection
(C)Weakness
, (D)Dehiscence
(D)Dehiscence
You are doing a medial subtalar joint dissection approach. Which structure do you not incise?
(A)Superficial Deltoid
(B)Deep Deltoid
(C)Posterior Tibialis
(D)Interosseous Ligament
(B)Deep Deltoid
You wish to block factor II which medication does this?
(A)Pradaxa
(B)Eliquis
(C)Brilinta
(D)Plavix
(A)Pradaxa
In performing a posteromedial release for a congenital clubfoot deformity, what is the most
important joint to release to prevent recurrence of the deformity?
•A. ankle.
•B. subtalar.
•C. talonavicular.
•D. calcaneocuboid.
C. talonavicular
For a severe rigid and painful talipes equinovarus in an adult, what primary surgical approach is
contraindicated? (note negative format)
•A. soft-tissue release and tendon transfer.
•B. talectomy and foot-to-leg arthrodesis.
•C. tarsal osteotomies.
•D. triple arthrodesis.
A. soft-tissue release and tendon transfer
In a six-month-old child, aggressive casting for the equinus component of a clubfoot deformity may
result in which of the following conditions?
•A. dislocation of the ankle.
•B. subluxation of the midtarsal joint.
•C. compression of the subtalar joint.
•D. rupture of posterior talotibialligament.
B. subluxation of the midtarsal joint
For a one-year-old patient with calcaneal valgus, what is an acceptable treatment plan?
•A. manipulation only.
•B. manipulation with serial casting.
•C. soft-tissue release.
•D. arthroereisis.
•E. triple arthrodesis at skeletal maturity.
B. manipulation with serial casting
For Talipes equinovarus select a statement that is true:
