AAFP Board Exam Review 2022
COMPLETE SOLUTION
325 Questions with 100% Correct Answers
What screening test has most potential for overdx? - ✔✔PSA- Overdiagnosis is the diagnosis of a disease
that will not produce symp
...
AAFP Board Exam Review 2022
COMPLETE SOLUTION
325 Questions with 100% Correct Answers
What screening test has most potential for overdx? - ✔✔PSA- Overdiagnosis is the diagnosis of a disease
that will not produce symptoms during a
patient's lifetime. It tends to occur with cancers that have very slow rates of growth.
Prostate cancer is most often a slow-growing cancer and is often present without
symptoms in older men. The introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening was
accompanied by a marked rise in the rate of diagnosis of prostate cancer while mortality
decreased much less significantly, and this decrease was probably largely attributable to
improved treatment.
What is the treatment for mallet fracture? - ✔✔The recommended treatment for a mallet fracture is
splinting the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint in
extension (SOR B). The usual duration of splinting is 8 weeks. It is important that extension be
maintained
throughout the duration of treatment because flexion can affect healing and prolong the time needed
for
treatment. If the finger fracture involves >30% of the intra-articular surface, referral to a hand or
orthopedic surgeon can be considered. However, conservative therapy appears to have outcomes
similar
to those of surgical treatment and therefore is generally preferred.
If subluxed radial head is suspected in a child, is imaging needed? - ✔✔As long as there are no outward
signs of fracture or abuse it is considered safe and appropriate to attempt reduction of the radial head
before moving on to imaging studies. With the child's elbow in 90° of flexion, the hand is fully supinated
by the examiner and the elbow is then brought into full flexion. Usually the child will begin to use the
affected arm again within a couple of minutes. If ecchymosis, significant swelling, or pain away from the
joint is present, or if symptoms do not improve after attempts at reduction, then a plain radiograph is
recommended.A 17-year-old female sees you for a preparticipation evaluation. She has run 5 miles a day for the last 6
months, and has lost 6 lb over the past 2 months. Her last menstrual period was 3 months ago. Other
than the fact that she appears to be slightly underweight, her examination is normal.
To fit the criteria for the female athlete triad, she must have which one of the following? - ✔✔The initial
definition of the female athlete triad was amenorrhea, osteoporosis, and disordered eating. The
American College of Sports Medicine modified this in 2007, emphasizing that the triad components
occur on a continuum rather than as individual pathologic conditions. The definitions have therefore
expanded. Disordered eating is no longer defined as the formal diagnosis of an eating disorder. Energy
availability,defined as dietary energy intake minus exercise energy expenditures, is now considered a
risk factor for the triad, as dietary restrictions and substantial energy expenditures disrupt pituitary and
ovarian function.
Athletes who have amenorrhea for 6 months, disordered eating, and/or a history of a stress fracture
resulting from minimal trauma should have a bone density test. Low bone mineral density for age is the
term used to describe at-risk female athletes with a Z-score of -1 to -2. Osteoporosis is defined as having
clinical risk factors for experiencing a fracture, along with a Z-score <-2.
what is the work up for secondary amenorrhea? - ✔✔This patient suffers from secondary amenorrhea
(defined as the cessation of regular menses for 3 months or irregular menses for 6 months). The most
common causes of secondary amenorrhea are polycystic ovary syndrome, primary ovarian failure,
hypothalamic amenorrhea, and hyperprolactinemia. With a normal physical examination, negative
pregnancy test, and no history of chronic disease, a hormonal
workup is indicated, including TSH, LH, and FSH levels (SOR C).
A hormonal challenge with medroxyprogesterone to provoke withdrawal bleeding is used to assess
functional anatomy and estrogen levels (SOR C). However, it has poor specificity and sensitivity for
ovarian function and a poor correlation with estrogen levels.
Pelvic ultrasonography is indicated in the workup of primary amenorrhea to confirm the presence of a
uterus and detect structural abnormalities of the reproductive organs. Likewise, karyotyping can be used
for patients with primary amenorrhea, as conditions such as Turner's syndrome and androgen
insensitivity syndrome are due to chromosomal abnormalities.
A CBC and metabolic panel would not be initial considerations in the workup of amenorrhea unless the
patient has a known chronic disease which may affect the results.What's the first line treatment for primary dysmenorrhea? - ✔✔The first-line treatment for primary
dysmenorrhea should be NSAIDs (SOR A). They should be started
at the onset of menses and continued for the first 1-2 days of the menstrual cycle.
Combined oral contraceptives may be effective for primary dysmenorrhea, but there is a lack of highquality randomized, controlled trials demonstrating pain improvement (SOR B). They may be a good
choice if the patient also desires contraception. Although combined oral contraceptives and
intramuscular and subcutaneous progestin-only contraceptives are effective treatments for
dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis, they are NOT first-line therapy for primary dysmenorrhea.
A 24-year-old female presents with pelvic pain. She says that the pain is present on most days, but is
worse during her menses. Ibuprofen has helped in the past but is no longer effective. Her menses are
normal and she has only one sexual partner. A physical examination is normal.
Which one of the following should be the next step in the workup of this patient? - ✔✔The initial
evaluation for chronic pelvic pain should include a urinalysis and culture, cervical swabs for gonorrhea
and Chlamydia, a CBC, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a β-hCG level, and pelvic ultrasonography. CT
and MRI are not part of the recommended initial diagnostic workup, but may be helpful in further
assessing any abnormalities found on pelvic ultrasonography. Referral for diagnostic laparoscopy is
appropriate if the initial workup does not reveal a source of the pain, or if endometriosis or adhesions
are suspected. Colonoscopy would be indicated if the history or examination suggests a gastrointestinal
source for the pain after the initial evaluation.
what can induce ovulation in PCOS? - ✔✔This patient fits the criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome
(oligomenorrhea, acne, hirsutism, hyperandrogenism, infertility). Symptoms also include insulin
resistance. Evidence of polycystic ovaries is not required for the diagnosis.
Metformin has the most evidence supporting its use in this situation, and is the only treatment listed
that is likely to decrease hirsutism and improve insulin resistance and menstrual irregularities.
Metformin and clomiphene alone or in combination are first-line agents for ovulation induction.
Clomiphene does not improve hirsutism, however. Progesterone is not indicated for any of this patient's
problems. Spironolactone will improve hirsutism and menstrual irregularities, but is not indicated for
ovulation induction.
What is the first step for evaluating a thyroid nodule? - ✔✔Thyroid nodules >1 cm that are discovered
incidentally on examination or imaging studies merit further evaluation. Nodules <1 cm should also befully evaluated when found in patients with a family history of thyroid cancer, a personal history of head
and neck irradiation, or a finding of cervical node enlargement.
Reasonable first steps include measurement of TSH or ultrasound examination. The American
Thyroid Association's guidelines recommend that TSH be the initial evaluation (SOR A) and that this be
followed by a radionuclide thyroid scan if results are abnormal. Diagnostic ultrasonography is
recommended for all patients with a suspected thyroid nodule, a nodular goiter, or a nodule found
incidentally on another imaging study (SOR A). Routine measurement of serum thyroglobulin or
calcitonin levels is not currently recommended.
CDC guidelines for a flu outbreak? - ✔✔The occurrence of two or more laboratory-confirmed cases of
influenza A is considered an outbreak in a long-term care facility. The CDC has specific recommendations
for managing an outbreak, which include *chemoprophylaxis with an appropriate medication for all
residents who are asymptomatic and treatment for all residents who are symptomatic*, regardless of
laboratory confirmation of infection or vaccination
status.
All staff should be considered for chemoprophylaxis regardless of whether they have had direct patient
contact with an infected resident or have received the vaccine. Requesting restriction of visitation is
recommended; however, it cannot be strictly enforced due to residents' rights.
number needed to treat
A new drug treatment is shown to reduce the incidence of a complication of a disease by 50%. If the
usual incidence of this complication were 1% per year, how many patients with this disease would have
to be treated with this medication for 1 year to prevent one occurrence of this complication? -
✔✔Considering relative risk reduction without also considering the absolute rate can distort the
importance of a therapy. A useful way to assess the importance of a therapy is to determine the number
needed to treat to benefit one patient. To calculate this number, the percentage of absolute risk
reduction of a particular therapy is divided into 100. In the case in question, the absolute risk reduction
is 0.5% (0.5×.01). Thus, the number-needed-to-treat for the example cited is 200 (100/0.5).
Examination of a 2-day-old infant reveals flesh-colored papules with an erythematous base
located on the face and trunk, containing eosinophils. Which one of the following would be mostappropriate at this time? - ✔✔This infant has findings consistent with erythema toxicum neonatorum,
which usually resolves in the first week or two of life (SOR A). No testing is usually necessary because of
the distinct appearance of the lesions. The cause is unknown.
American Urological Association guidelines define asymptomatic microscopic hematuria as
which one of the following in the absence of an obvious benign cause? - ✔✔The American Urological
Association guidelines define asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (AMH) as ≥3 RBCs/hpf on a properly
collected urine specimen in the absence of an obvious benign cause (SOR C).
A positive dipstick does not define AMH, and evaluation should be based solely on findings from
microscopic examination of urinary sediment and not on a dipstick reading. A positive dipstick reading
merits microscopic examination to confirm or refute the diagnosis of AMH.
How to manage respiratory distress in the terminally ill patient at 94% O2? - ✔✔Dyspnea is a frequent
and distressing symptom in terminally ill patients. In the absence of hypoxia, oxygen is not likely to be
helpful. Opiates are the mainstay of symptomatic treatment and other measures may be appropriate in
specific circumstances. For example, inhaled bronchodilators or glucocorticoids may be
helpful in patients with COPD, and diuresis may be helpful in patients with heart failure. The evidence
for oxygen in patients with hypoxemia is not clear, but
there is no benefit from oxygen for nonhypoxemic patients
According to the guidelines developed by the JNC 8 panel, which one of the following should
NOT be used as a first-line treatment for hypertension? - ✔✔ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor
blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers, and
thiazide-type diuretics all yielded comparable effects on overall mortality and cardiovascular,
cerebrovascular, and kidney outcomes. They are all recommended for initial treatment of high blood
pressure in the nonblack population, including patients with diabetes mellitus.
B-Blockers were not recommended for the initial treatment of hypertension because one study found
there was a higher rate of the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death, myocardial
infarction, or stroke with use of these drugs compared to the use of an ARB.A 67-year-old male presents with a 10-day history of bilateral shoulder pain and stiffness
accompanied by upper arm tenderness. On examination there is soreness about both shoulders
and the patient has great difficulty raising his arms above his shoulders. There is no visual
disturbance, and no tenderness over the temporal arteries. C-reactive protein is elevated and the
erythrocyte sedimentation rate is 65 mm/hr (N 0-17).
Which one of the following would help to confirm the most likely diagnosis? - ✔✔This patient has
characteristic features of polymyalgia rheumatica, a disease whose prevalence increases with age in
older adults but is almost never seen before age 50. Most people will have accompanying systemic
symptoms including fatigue, weight loss, low-grade fever, a decline in appetite, and depression.
There are no validated diagnostic criteria available to assist in the diagnosis. The treatment response to
15 mg of prednisone daily is dramatic, often within 24-48 hours, and if this response is not seen,
alternative diagnoses must be considered. NSAIDs are not useful in the management of polymyalgia
rheumatica and, in fact, are associated with high drug morbidity.
Ultrasonography may be useful in making the diagnosis, with typical findings of subdeltoid bursitis and
tendon synovitis of the shoulders, but synovitis of the glenohumeral joint is less common.
A 45-year-old female presents to your office with a 1-month history of pain and swelling posterior to the
medial malleolus. She does not recall any injury, but reports that the pain is worse with weight bearing
and with inversion of the foot. Plantar flexion against resistance elicits pain, and the patient is unable to
perform a single-leg heel raise.
Which one of the following is true regarding this problem? - ✔✔The diagnosis of tendinopathy of the
posterior tibial tendon is important, in that the tendon's function is to perform plantar flexion of the
foot, invert the foot, and stabilize the medial longitudinal arch. An injury can, over time, elongate the
midfoot and hindfoot ligaments, causing a painful flatfoot deformity.
The patient usually recalls no trauma, although the injury may occur from twisting the foot by stepping
in a hole. This is most commonly seen in women over the age of 40. Without proper treatment,
progressive degeneration of the tendon can occur, ultimately leading to tendon rupture.
Pain and swelling of the tendon is often noted, and is misdiagnosed as a medial ankle sprain. With the
patient standing on tiptoe, the heel should deviate in a varus alignment, but this does not occur on theinvolved side. A single-leg toe raise should reproduce the pain, and if the process has progressed, this
maneuver indicates progression of the problem.
While treatment with acetaminophen or NSAIDs provides short-term pain relief, neither affects longterm outcome. Corticosteroid injection into the synovial sheath of the posterior tibial tendon is
associated with a high rate of tendon rupture and is not recommended. The best initial treatment is
immobilization in a cast boot or short leg cast for 2-3 weeks.
A 76-year-old female presents with a history of bilateral shoulder pain for the past month. She
reports stiffness in the morning for about 1 hour and also reports difficulty getting up when
seated in a chair. Acetaminophen is ineffective for her pain. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate
is 65 mm/hr (N 1-25).
treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica? - ✔✔This patient has polymyalgia rheumatica, based on her
history and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The initial treatment is prednisone, 15 mg per day
with a slow taper over 1-2 years (SOR C). Alternative
treatment includes intramuscular methylprednisolone, 120 mg every 3 weeks.
There must be bilateral shoulder or hip stiffness and aching for at least one month in order to make the
diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica. Joint swelling occurs occasionally, but neither swelling nor early
morning stiffness is necessary to make the diagnosis. Polymyalgia rheumatica does not respond to
NSAIDs. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate should be ≥40 mm/hr.
A 71-year-old female with end-stage lung cancer was recently extubated and is awaiting transfer to
hospice. She is awake and confused and has significant respiratory secretions.
Which one of the following medications used for reducing respiratory secretions is LEAST likely to cause
central nervous system effects such as sedation? (check one)
A. Atropine
B. Transdermal scopolamine (Transderm Scop)
C. Hyoscyamine (Levsin)D. Glycopyrrolate (Robinul) - ✔✔Glycopyrrolate does not cross the blood-brain barrier, and is therefore
least likely to cause central nervous system effects such as sedation. The other medications listed do
cross the blood-brain barrier.
Which one of the following is the most common cause of unintentional deaths in children? -
✔✔Unintentional injuries account for 40% of childhood deaths. Motor vehicle accidents are the most
frequent cause of these deaths (58.2% of unintentional deaths). The proper use of child restraints is the
most effective way to prevent injury or death, and the American Academy of Family Physicians and the
American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend that physicians actively promote the proper use of
motor vehicle restraints for all patients.
Drowning accounts for 10.9% of all unintentional deaths in children, poisoning for 7.7%, fires 5.7%, and
falls 1.4%.
A 45-year-old male presents with shortness of breath and a cough. On pulmonary function testing his
FVC is <80% of predicted, his FEV1/FVC is 90% of predicted, and there is no
improvement with bronchodilator use. The diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide
(DLCO) is also low.
Based on these results, which one of the following is most likely to be the cause of this patient's
problem? - ✔✔Based on the results of pulmonary function testing, this patient has a pure restrictive
pattern with a low
diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. Pulmonary fibrosis is compatible with this pattern. A patient
with any of the other listed diagnoses would be expected to have an obstructive pattern on testing.
normal value is about 80%
A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a complaint of acute, sharp chest pain
relieved only by leaning forward. On examination you hear a pericardial friction rub. An EKG shows
diffuse ST elevations. Echocardiography reveals a small pericardial effusion.Which one of the following is the most appropriate initial treatment? - ✔✔Patients with acute
pericarditis should be treated empirically with colchicine and/or NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen) for the first
episode of mild to moderate pericarditis.
B-Blockers would only be appropriate if the cause of the patient's chest pain were an infarction or
ischemia. Nitrates do not relieve the pain of pericarditis. Glucocorticoids are typically reserved for use in
patients with severe or refractory cases or in cases where the likely cause of the pericarditis is
connective tissue disease, autoreactivity, or uremia (SOR C).
When is a kid overweight according to the CDC? - ✔✔The recommended terminology for weight
classification in children is based on age and either BMI (for children ages 2-18 years) or weight-forlength ratio (for children ages 0-2 years).
Children under the age of 2 years are identified as being overweight when their weight-for-length ratio
exceeds the 95th percentile for their sex. The term obese is not used for children under the age of 2
years.
Children age 2-18 years are appropriately classified as underweight when their BMI falls below the 5th
percentile, healthy weight
when their BMI is between the 5th and 85th percentile, overweight when their BMI is between the 85th
and 94th percentile, and obese when their BMI is in the 95th or greater percentile.
There is currently no standard definition of childhood morbid obesity, but obesity is sometimes
classified as severe or extreme
when a child's BMI is at the 99th percentile or greater.
What is RSV season? - ✔✔Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory tract
infections in children. The
infections are usually self-limited and are rarely associated with bacterial co-infection, but in very young
infants, prematurely born infants, or those with pre-existing heart/lung conditions, the infection can be
severe. In North America, RSV season is November to April.
Treatment is primarily supportive, includinga trial of bronchodilators, with continued use only if there is an immediate response. Corticosteroids and
antibiotics are not routinely indicated (SOR B). Routine laboratory and radiologic studies should not be
used in making the diagnosis, as it is based on the history and physical examination (SOR C).
A 2-month-old female is brought to your office with tachypnea and a staccato cough. She is
afebrile. A chest radiograph shows hyperinflation and bilateral infiltrates, and a CBC reveals
eosinophilia.
Which one of the following is the most likely etiologic agent? - ✔✔This infant has the typical findings of
chlamydial pneumonia, which usually develops 1-3 months after
birth and should be suspected in a young infant who has tachypnea, a staccato cough, and no fever (SOR
A). Radiographs often show hyperinflation and infiltrates, and a CBC will reveal eosinophilia.
What is the most appropriate treatment for community acquired pneumonia in kids? - ✔✔Amoxicillin is
the recommended first-line treatment for previously healthy infants and school-age children with mild
to moderate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (strong recommendation; moderate-quality
evidence). The most prominent bacterial pathogen in CAP in this age group is Streptococcus
pneumoniae, and amoxicillin provides coverage against this organism.
Azithromycin would be an appropriate choice in an older child because Mycoplasma pneumoniae would
be more common. Moxifloxacin should not be used in children. Ceftriaxone and cefdinir can both be
used to treat CAP, but they are broader spectrum antibiotics and would not be a first-line choice in this
age group.
A 53-year-old male presents to your office with a several-day history of hiccups. They are not severe, but
have been interrupting his sleep, and he is becoming exasperated.
What should be the primary focus of treatment in this individual? - ✔✔Hiccups are caused by a
respiratory reflex that originates from the phrenic and vagus nerves, as well as the thoracic sympathetic
chain. Hiccups that last a matter of hours are usually benign and self-limited, and may be caused by
gastric distention. Treatments usually focus on interrupting the reflex loop of the hiccup, and can
include mechanical means (e.g., stimulating the pharynx with a tongue depressor) or medical treatment,
although only chlorpromazine is FDA-approved for this indication.If the hiccups have lasted more than a couple of days, and especially if they are waking the patient up at
night, there may be an underlying pathology causing the hiccups. In one study, 66% of patients who
experienced hiccups for longer than 2 days had an underlying physical cause. Identifying and treating
the underlying disorder should be the focus of management for intractable hiccups.
When compared to a figure-of-eight dressing, which one of the following modalities of treatment
has been shown to have similar fracture-healing outcomes and increased patient satisfaction for
nondisplaced mid-shaft clavicular fractures? - ✔✔When compared to a figure-of-eight dressing, a sling
has been shown to have similar fracture healing rates in patients with a nondisplaced midshaft clavicular
fracture. In addition, a figure-of-eight dressing is uncomfortable and difficult to adjust, and patients have
reported increased satisfaction when treated with a sling. Long and short arm casts are not appropriate
options to manage a patient with a clavicular fracture.
Operative treatment is an option to treat displaced midshaft fractures (SOR B). It should be noted that a
Cochrane review of interventions for clavicle fracture pointed out that the studies of this problem were
done in the 1980s and did not meet current standards. One of the conclusions of this
review was that further research should be done.
How is anemia of chronic kidney disease treated when iron stores are low (low serum ferritin)? -
✔✔Patients with depleted iron stores will benefit from replenishment, which serves to correct an
isolated iron deficiency or improve the response to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. Iron therapy is
generally initiated orally with ferrous sulfate, 325 mg 3 times a day. The effectiveness of this therapy can
be monitored by checking hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and ferritin levels at 1 and 3 months after
beginning treatment.
If the goals have not been achieved by 3 months, intravenous iron therapy should be considered.
For patients who do not respond to iron replacement, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents such as epoetin
alfa or darbepoetin alfa should be used.
The goal should be to relieve symptoms such as fatigue and to achieve a hemoglobin level of 11-12 g/dL.
Levels >13 g/dL increase the mortality rate, particularly from cardiovascular disease.
Which one of the following is a common cause of prerenal acute kidney injury? - ✔✔The diagnosis of
acute kidney injury (AKI) is based on elevated serum creatinine levels and is oftenassociated with a reduction in urine output (SOR C). The causes of AKI are commonly divided into three
categories: prerenal, intrinsic renal, and postrenal (SOR C). Prerenal AKI is most commonly due to
decreased renal perfusion, often because of volume depletion. In addition to vomiting and diarrhea,
overuse of diuretics can lead to prerenal AKI. Intrinsic renal AKI is caused by a process within the
kidneys. Glomerulonephritis and acute tubular necrosis are types of intrinsic AKI. Postrenal AKI refers to
a process distal to the kidneys and is most often caused by inadequate drainage of urine. Neurogenic
bladder and prostate hypertrophy contribute to extrarenal obstruction.
A 77-year-old white male complains of urinary incontinence of more than one year's duration. The
incontinence occurs with sudden urgency. No association with coughing or positional change has been
noted, and there is no history of fever or dysuria. He underwent transurethral resection of the prostate
(TURP) for benign prostatic hypertrophy a year ago, and he says his urinary stream has improved. A
rectal examination reveals a smoothly enlarged prostate without nodularity, and normal sphincter tone.
No residual urine is found with post-void catheterization.
Which one of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's incontinence? - ✔✔In elderly
patients, detrusor instability is the most common cause of urinary incontinence in both men and
women. Incontinence may actually become worse after surgical relief of obstructive prostatic
hypertrophy.
Infection is unlikely as the cause of persistent incontinence in this patient in the absence of fever or
symptoms of urinary tract infection. Overflow is unlikely in the absence of residual urine. Impaction is a
relatively rare cause of urinary incontinence, and associated findings would be present on rectal
examination. Normalization of the urinary stream and the absence of residual urine reduce the
likelihood of recurrent obstruction. The prostate would be expected to remain enlarged on rectal
examination after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
An 86-year-old mildly demented male nursing-home resident rarely leaves the facility. He has frequent
fecal incontinence that is disturbing to both him and his family. He has diet-controlled diabetes mellitus
and hypertension, and a history of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic
hypertrophy. An examination is remarkable only for an empty rectum and no focal neurologic findings.
Which one of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's fecal incontinence? (check one)
A. Decreased rectal sensation secondary to diabetes mellitus
B. Decreased rectal storage capacity
C. Internal sphincter weakness
D. Puborectalis weaknessE. Overflow - ✔✔Overflow incontinence is common in the institutionalized elderly, and is often due to
constipating medications. Reduced storage capacity is usually seen with inflammatory bowel disease.
Mild diabetes mellitus does not cause decreased rectal sensation, and puborectalis and internal
sphincter weakness are uncommon in males, as they usually result from vaginal delivery.
What patient population typically has SCFE? - ✔✔Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) occurs most
commonly during the adolescent growth spurt (11-13 years of age for girls, 13-15 years of age for boys).
While the cause is unknown, associated factors
include anatomic variables such as femoral retroversion or steeper inclination of the proximal femoral
physis, in addition to being overweight. African-Americans are affected more commonly as well. The
patient may present with pain in the groin or anterior thigh, but also may present with pain referred to
the knee.
The hallmark of SCFE on examination is limited internal rotation of the hip. Specific to SCFE is the even
greater limitation of internal rotation when the hip is flexed to 90°. No other pediatric condition has this
physical finding, which makes the maneuver very useful in children with lower extremity pain.
Orthopedic consultation is advised if SCFE is suspected. Hip extension and abduction are also limited in
SCFE, but these findings are nonspecific. The knee findings in this patient are not associated with SCFE.
What patient population gets Legg-Calve perthes? - ✔✔That is also the case for Legg-Calvé-Perthes
disease, also known as avascular or aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. This condition most commonly
occurs in boys 4-8 years of age. In addition to hip (or knee) pain, limping is a prominent feature.
An 8-year-old female is brought to your office because she has begun to limp. She has had a fever of
38.8°C (101.8°F) and says that it hurts to bear weight on her right leg. She has no history of trauma.
On examination, she walks with an antalgic gait and hesitates to bear weight on the leg. Range of
motion of the right hip is limited in all directions and is painful. Her sacroiliac joint is not tender, and the
psoas sign is negative. Laboratory testing reveals an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 55 mm/hr (N 0-
10), a WBC count of 15,500/mm 3 (N 4500-13,500), and a C-reactiveprotein level of 2.5 mg/dL (N 0.5-
1.0).
Which one of the following will provide the most useful diagnostic information to further evaluate this
patient's problem? - ✔✔This child meets the criteria for possible septic arthritis. In this case
ultrasonography is recommended over other imaging procedures. It is highly sensitive for detecting
effusion of the hip joint. If an effusion is present, urgent ultrasound-guided aspiration should be
performed.Bone scintigraphy is excellent for evaluating a limping child when the history, physical examination, and
radiographic and sonographic findings fail to localize the pathology. CT is indicated when cortical bone
must be visualized. MRI provides excellent visualization of joints, soft tissues, cartilage, and medullary
bone. It is especially useful for confirming osteomyelitis, delineating the extent of malignancies,
identifying stress fractures, and diagnosing early Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Plain film radiography is
often obtained as an initial imaging modality in any child with a limp. However, films may be normal in
patients with septic arthritis, providing a false-negative result.
A 56-year-old female comes in for evaluation of gradually worsening right hip pain. She describes her
pain as located in the groin and dull in nature, and with activity often notes a clicking sensation
associated with sharp pain. On examination her hip range of motion is intact
but pain is elicited with extremes of internal and external rotation and her groin pain is exacerbated
with the FABER test (knee flexion, abduction and external rotation of the leg until the ankle rests
proximal to the contralateral knee) and FADIR test (knee flexion, adduction, and internal rotation of the
leg).
Which one of the following is the most likely diagnosis? - ✔✔This patient has signs and symptoms of a
hip labral tear. This causes dull or sharp groin pain, which in
some patients radiates to the lateral hip, anterior thigh, or buttock. The pain usually has an insidious
onset, but occasionally begins acutely after a traumatic event. Half of patients also have mechanical
symptoms, such as catching or painful clicking with activity.
The FADIR and FABER tests are effective for detecting intra-articular pathology (the sensitivity is 75%-
96% for the FADIR test and 88% for the FABER test), although neither test has high specificity.
Magnetic resonance arthrography is considered the diagnostic test of choice for labral tears, as it has a
sensitivity of 90% and an accuracy of 91%. However, if a labral tear is not suspected, less invasive
imaging modalities such as plain radiography and conventional MRI should be used first to assess for
other causes of hip and groin pain.
This patient has no history of trauma or risk factors to suggest a fracture. A femoral hernia would
typically present as pain that is worse with straining or lifting, associated with a palpable bulge in the
upper thigh. Trochanteric bursitis typically causes lateral hip pain with point tenderness over the greater
trochanter of the femur (steroids!)A 35-year-old male amateur rugby player seeks your advice because right hip pain of several months'
duration has progressed to the point of interfering with his athletic performance. The pain is
accentuated when he transitions from a seated to a standing position, and especially when he pivots on
the hip while running, but he cannot recall any significant trauma to the area and finds no relief with
over-the-counter analgesics. On examination his gait is stable. The affected hip appears normal and is
neither tender to palpation nor excessively warm to touch. Although he has a full range of passive
motion, obvious discomfort is evident with internal rotation of the flexed and adducted right hip.
Which one of the following is most strongly suggested by this clinical picture? - ✔✔Gradually worsening
anterolateral hip joint pain that is sharply accentuated when pivoting laterally on the affected hip or
moving from a seated to a standing position is consistent with femoroacetabular impingement.
Reproduction of the pain on range-of-motion examination by manipulating the hip into a position of
flexion, adduction, and internal rotation (FADIR test) is the most sensitive physical finding. Special
radiographic imaging of the flexed and adducted hip can emphasize the anatomic abnormalities
associated with impingement that may go unnoticed on standard radiographic series views.
Although the pain associated with avascular necrosis is similarly insidious and heightened when bearing
weight, tenderness is usually evident with hip motion in any direction. Osteoarthritis of the hip generally
occurs in individuals of more advanced age than this patient, and the pain produced is typically localized
to the groin area and can be elicited by flexion, abduction, and external rotation (FABER test) of the
affected hip.Bursitis manifests as soreness after exercise and tenderness over the affected bursa.
Which one of the following vaccines will slightly increase the child's risk of a febrile seizure for
up to 2 weeks after administration? - ✔✔Fever and febrile seizures may occur after administration of
several vaccines. Postimmunization seizures,
especially febrile seizures, occur at a higher rate in children who have a past history of seizures or a
first-degree relative with a history of seizures. The benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks, so they
are not contraindicated in this situation, although the parents need to be cautioned about the increased
risk of seizure.
Of the vaccines listed, the only one likely to put the child at risk for a seizure up to 2 weeks after
administration is the MMR vaccine. Specifically, it is the measles component of the vaccine that is the
potential culprit. A temperature of 39.4°C (103°F) or higher develops in approximately 5%-15% of
susceptible vaccine recipients, usually 6-12 days after receipt of MMR vaccine. The fever generally lasts
1-2 days but may last up to 5 days.What are signs of ulnar collateral ligament injury? - ✔✔This patient has injured his ulnar collateral
ligament (UCL). The UCL is the primary restraint to valgus stress on the elbow during overhead throwing.
These injuries often occur in athletes participating in sports that require overhead throwing, such as
baseball, javelin, and volleyball. Patients often report a pop followed by immediate pain and bruising
around the medial elbow. The moving valgus stress test has 100% sensitivity and 75% specificity for
diagnosing UCL injuries.
What are signs of medial epicondylitis? - ✔✔Medial epicondylitis usually presents with an insidious
onset of pain related to a recent increase in occupational or recreational activities. Patients also often
report weakened grip strength. The point of maximal tenderness is 5-10 mm distal to and anterior to the
medial epicondyle. It is most often a tendinopathy of the flexor carpi radialis and the pronator teres.
What are signs of biceps tendinopathy? - ✔✔Biceps tendinopathy usually presents with a history of
vague anterior elbow pain and a history of repeated elbow flexion with forearm supination and
pronation, such as dumbbell curls. Resisted supination produces pain deep in the antecubital fossa.
What is cubital tunnel syndrome? - ✔✔Cubital tunnel syndrome is a neuropathy of the ulnar nerve
caused by compression or traction as it passes through the cubital tunnel of the medial elbow. The onset
of pain is more insidious than UCL injury, occurring with repetitive activity, and is usually accompanied
by numbness and tingling in the ulnar border of the forearm and hand. If it has existed for some time,
the intrinsic hand muscle may become weak.
What are signs of triceps tendinopathy? - ✔✔Tendinopathy of the triceps insertion is more common in
weight lifters or athletes who repetitively extend their elbows against resistance. Pain occurs at the
posterior elbow with resisted extension, and tenderness is located over the triceps insertion.
Cow's milk in the diet is not recommended until a kid is how old? - ✔✔Whole cow's milk does not supply
infants with enough vitamin E, iron, and essential fatty acids, and overburdens them with too much
protein, sodium, and potassium. Skim and low-fat milk lead to the same problems as whole milk, and
also fail to provide adequate calories for growth. For these reasons cow's milk is not recommended for
children under 12 months of age. Human breast milk or iron-fortified formula, with introduction of
certain solid foods and juices after 4-6 months of age if desired, is appropriate for the first year of life.
A 15-year-old male presents to the emergency department after suffering a lateral dislocation of
his patella. Which one of the following would be the best method for reducing this dislocation? - ✔✔It is
usually simple to reduce a lateral patellar dislocation, and these injuries rarely require acute surgicalmanagement. The proper technique is to have the patient sit or lie with the leg in a flexed position and
then apply gentle medial pressure to the patella until the most lateral edge is over the femoral condyle.
The leg should then be gently extended and the knee brought into full extension. This should cause the
patella to slip back into place, and the knee should then be immobilized.
A 68-year-old male with end-stage lung cancer is being treated for pain secondary to multiple
visceral and skeletal metastases. He has been on oral ibuprofen and parenteral morphine.
However, over the past few weeks he reports progressive worsening of his pain. In order to
achieve better pain control his morphine dosage has been continuously titrated up. In spite of this
increase he continues to report severe pain that is now diffuse and occurs even when his
caregivers touch him.
Which one of the following would be most appropriate at this time? - ✔✔Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is
characterized by a paradoxical increase in sensitivity to pain despite an increase in the opioid dosage. It
is seen in patients who are receiving high doses of parenteral opioids such as morphine. Patients report
the development of diffuse pain away from the site of the original pain. Allodynia, a perception of pain
in the absence of a painful stimulus, is also typical in opioid-induced hyperalgesia.
Strategies to manage this condition include reducing the current opioid dosage, and occasionally
eliminating the current opioid and starting another opioid.
The addition of non-opioid pain medications should also be considered. The addition of an anxiolytic is
not likely to improve this patient's
pain (SOR C).
You are caring for a 70-year-old male with widespread metastatic prostate cancer. Surgery, radiation,
and hormonal therapy have failed to stop the cancer, and the goal of his care is now symptom relief. He
is being cared for through a local hospice. Over the past few days he has been experiencing respiratory
distress. His oxygen saturation is 94% on room air and his lungs are clear to auscultation. His respiratory
rate is 16/min.
Which one of the following would be best at this po - ✔✔Dyspnea is a frequent and distressing
symptom in terminally ill patients. In the absence of hypoxia, oxygen is not likely to be helpful. Opiates
are the mainstay of symptomatic treatment.A 42-year-old male with a 4-year history of multiple sclerosis (MS) presents with an acute attack
manifested by ataxia, incoordination, and dysarthria. Which one of the following is indicated for
managing this flare-up of his MS? - ✔✔Corticosteroids, either orally or parenterally, are the first-line
treatment for acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis (MS) (SOR A). A Cochrane review found no
significant differences in outcomes based on the route of administration.
Disease-modifying agents such as interferon beta, glatiramer, and immunosuppressants such as
fingolimod may decrease the frequency of exacerbations and slow the progression of MS but are not the
agents of first choice for treatment of acute flareups. Pramipexole does not have a primary role in the
treatment of MS, although it might be used to treat certain specific
symptoms as an adjunct therapy.
What is the treatment for serotonin syndrome? - ✔✔Serotonin syndrome is a result of increased
serotonergic activity in the central nervous system and may be life-threatening. It is usually a
combination of autonomic hyperactivity, neuromuscular abnormality, and mental status changes. The
most common group of medications that may cause this is the SSRIs. Serotonin syndrome most
commonly occurs in the first 24 hours of treatment. Patients often present with
agitation and confusion, tachycardia, and elevated blood pressure, as well as a dry mouth. While there
are usually no focal neurologic findings, hyperreflexia and even spontaneous clonus may be seen. The
finding of slow, horizontal movement of the eyes is also helpful in making the diagnosis.
The initial management is to discontinue the offending agent, begin supportive care, and attempt to
calm the patient verbally. Many times medication is needed, and the drug of choice is an intravenous
benzodiazepine such as lorazepam or diazepam.
If treatment for tachycardia or hypertension is needed, propranolol should not be used due to its longer
activity. Haloperidol should be avoided, as it may actually increase anticholinergic activity. Flumazenil is
rarely used, although it has been used for tricyclic antidepressant overdosage, and it carries a significant
risk of inducing seizures.
If the patient does not respond to calming with benzodiazepines, the antidote would be cyproheptadine.
Which one of the following can help to minimize the pain of lidocaine (Xylocaine) injection? -
✔✔Lidocaine buffered with sodium bicarbonate decreases the pain associated with the injection. This
effect is enhanced when the solution is warmed to room temperature (SOR B). Rapidly inserting theneedle through the skin, injecting the solution slowly and steadily while withdrawing the needle, and
injecting into the subcutaneous tissue also minimize the pain of injection.
Which one of the following is most appropriate for patients with asplenia? - ✔✔Asplenic patients who
develop a fever should be given antibiotics immediately.
Due to the increased risk of pneumococcal sepsis in asplenic patients, vaccinations against these
particular bacteria are specifically recommended. Since pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and
pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) can interact with each other they should be given at
least 8 weeks apart.
Prophylactic penicillin given orally twice a day is particularly important in children under 5 years of age
who are asplenic, and may be considered for 1-2 years post splenectomy in older patients. Lifelong daily
antibiotics may be considered following post-splenectomy sepsis. T
he risk for Haemophilus influenzae type b infection is not increased in asplenic patients, so additional
vaccine is not needed for those who have already been vaccinated. Live attenuated influenza vaccine
may be used in asplenic patients, unless they have sickle cell disease.
You are caring for a 60-year-old female with Crohn's disease that is well controlled by
infliximab (Remicade). As your staff updates her immunization status, which one of the
following should be kept in mind? - ✔✔Zoster vaccine, a live attenuated virus vaccine, is contraindicated
in this patient due to her
immunocompromised state. The other vaccines listed are safe and particularly recommended for
patients with inflammatory bowel disease, given their increased susceptibility to infections.
Immunosuppression is defined as:
• Treatment with glucocorticoids (treatment with the equivalent of 20 mg/day of prednisone for 2
weeks or more, and discontinuation within the previous 3 months)
• Ongoing treatment with effective doses of 6-MP/azathioprine or discontinuation within the
previous 3 months
• Treatment with methotrexate or discontinuation within the previous 3 months
• Treatment with infliximab or discontinuation within the previous 3 months• Significant protein-calorie malnutrition
A 37-year-old graphic designer presents to your office with a history of several months of radial
wrist pain. She does not recall any specific trauma but notes that it hurts to hold a coffee cup.
Finkelstein's test is positive and a grind test is negative, and there is tenderness to palpation over
the radial tubercle.
Which one of the following would be most appropriate at this point? - ✔✔This patient has de Quervain's
tenosynovitis. Finkelstein's test has good sensitivity and specificity (SOR C) in patients with a negative
grind test. = rest and thumb spica wrist splint
A positive grind test would be more consistent with scaphoid fracture.
A hand radiograph with secondary thumb spica splinting would be appropriate for a suspected scaphoid
fracture, but the insidious onset as opposed to overt trauma makes this diagnosis unlikely in thiscase. A
short arm cast is not indicated in de Quervain's tenosynovitis but may be appropriate for forearm/wrist
fractures.
A 35-year-old right-handed softball player injures his left wrist when sliding into second base. When he
sees you the next day his description of the injury indicates that he hyperextended his wrist while
sliding, and the pain was later accompanied by swelling. Your examination is remarkable only for mild
swelling and tenderness of the dorsal wrist, distal to the ulnar styloid. What is this injury? -
✔✔Triquetral fractures typically occur with hyperextension of the wrist. Dorsal avulsion fractures are
more common than fractures of the body of the bone. Tenderness is characteristically noted on the
dorsal wrist on the ulnar side distal to the ulnar styloid. The typical radiologic finding is a small bony
avulsion visible on a lateral view of the wrist. Most studies indicate that this carpal bone has the second
or third highest fracture rate after the navicular. Avulsion fractures respond well to 4 weeks of splinting
and protection.
Clinical and radiologic signs do not match those expected in navicular or scaphoid fractures. Navicular
fractures may initially have normal radiologic findings. Immobilization and follow-up radiographs are
required. Tenderness in the snuffbox area is expected, but dorsal tenderness and swelling are not
characteristic. The radiographs do not show a lunate fracture or dislocation. A wrist sprain is a diagnosis
of exclusion and should not be considered too early.Which one of the following is an indication for a second dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide
vaccine in children? - ✔✔Patients with chronic illness, diabetes mellitus, cerebrospinal fluid leaks,
chronic bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cyanotic congenital heart disease, or cochlear implants should
receive one dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine after 2 years of age, and at least 2 months
after the last dose of pneumococcal
conjugate vaccine. Revaccination with polysaccharide vaccine is not recommended for these patients.
Individuals with sickle cell disease, those with anatomic or functional asplenia, immunocompromised
persons with renal failure or leukemia, and HIV-infected persons should receive polysaccharide vaccine
on this same schedule and should also be revaccinated at least 3 years after the first dose.
A 30-year-old female reports that she and her husband have not been able to conceive after
trying for 15 months. She takes no medications, has regular menses, and has no history of
headaches, pelvic infections, or heat/cold intolerance. Her physical examination is
unremarkable. Her husband recently had a normal semen analysis.
Which one of the following would be the most appropriate next step? - ✔✔Although infertility issues
may be very complex, the primary care physician can initiate an appropriate workup. For women who
are having regular menstrual cycles, ovulation is very likely. Ovulation can be confirmed by a
progesterone level ³5 ng/mL on day 21 of the cycle.
If this is the case, tubal patency should be confirmed with hysterosalpingography or laparoscopy.
Obstruction or adhesions would require surgical correction, but if there are none, referral for assisted
reproductive technology would be appropriate.
Should the progesterone level be <5 ng/mL, anovulation should be investigated with TSH, estradiol, FSH,
and prolactin levels. Treatment can be initiated if findings reveal the cause of the problem, but if they
are unremarkable it is reasonable to try clomiphene to induce ovulation. If this is unsuccessful, referral
would be the next step.
A 48-year-old male sees you for a routine health maintenance examination. His blood pressure
is 142/90 mm Hg and you recommend that he return for a repeat blood pressure measurement. Eight
weeks later his blood pressure is 138/88 mm Hg. He denies any symptoms on a review of systems. Hetells you that on his 40th birthday he abruptly stopped smoking after smoking a pack of cigarettes a day
since his early twenties. He is adopted and cannot provide a family
history.
According to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, which one of the following conditions
should this patient be screened for now? - ✔✔U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines
recommend that asymptomatic adults with sustained blood pressure >135/80 mm Hg be screened for
type 2 diabetes mellitus using fasting plasma glucose, a 2-hour glucose tolerance test, or hemoglobin
A1c measurements (USPSTF B recommendation).
Screening for colon cancer with either annual high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy
every 5 years, or colonoscopy every 10 years is also recommended for adults between the ages of 50
and 75 years (USPSTF A recommendation).
Men who have ever smoked (defined as 100 or more cigarettes) should be screened once for abdominal
aortic aneurysm (USPSTF B recommendation) between the ages
of 65 and 75. Similar screening is recommended in men who have never smoked, but this is a USPSTF
grade C recommendation.
No recommendation has been made with regard to screening for peripheral vascular disease, and the
recommendation on screening for hemochromatosis is listed as inactive on the
USPSTF website.
A hemoglobin A1c of 7.0% would correspond to which one of the following mean (average) plasma
glucose levels? - ✔✔A hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) of 6.0% correlates with a mean plasma glucose level of
126 mg/dL or 7.0 1c 1c mmol/dL. A calculator to convert HbA1clevels into estimated average glucose
levels is available at http://professional.diabetes.org/eAG.
A rough guide for estimating average plasma glucose levels assumes that an 1cof 6.0% equals an
average glucose level of 120 mg/dL. Each percentage point increase in 1c is equivalent to a 30-mg/dL
rise in average glucose. An HbA1cof 7.0% is therefore roughly equivalent to an average glucose level of
150 mg/dL, and an HbA1c of 8.0% translates to an average glucose level of 180 mg/dL.His FVC and FEV1/FVC are both less than the lower limit of normal as defined by the Third National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Repeat testing
following administration of a bronchodilator does not correct these values. Which one of the following
would be most appropriate at this time? - ✔✔An FVC that falls below the lower limit of normal (LLN),
defined as the fifth percentile of spirometry data obtained from the Third National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, is consistent with a restrictive pattern of pulmonary function. An FEV1/FVC less
than the LLN is consistent with an obstructive defect. A mixed pattern exists when both values are below
the LLN, as in this case. The patient should now be referred for full pulmonary function testing, including
diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO).
DLCO is a quantitative measure of gas transfer in the lungs. Diseases that decrease blood flow to the
lungs or that damage alveoli will lead to less efficient gas exchange and result in a lower DLCO value.
Bronchoprovocation (a methacholine challenge, a mannitol inhalation challenge, or exercise testing)
should be performed if pulmonary function test results are normal but exercise- or allergen-induced
asthma is suspected.
When treating acute adult asthma in the emergency department, using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
with a spacer has been shown to result in which one of the following, compared to use of a nebulizer? -
✔✔Compared to nebulizers, MDIs with spacers have been shown to lower pulse rates, provide greater
improvement in peak-flow rates, lead to greater improvement in arterial blood gases, and decrease
required albuterol doses. They have also been shown to lower costs, shorten emergency department
stays, and significantly lower relapse rates at 2 and 3 weeks compared to nebulizers. There is no
difference in hospital admission rates.
You see a 5-year-old white female with in-toeing due to excessive femoral anteversion. She is
otherwise normal and healthy, and her mobility is unimpaired. Her parents are greatly concerned
with her appearance and possible future disability, and request that she be treated.
You recommend which one of the following? - ✔✔There is little evidence that femoral anteversion
causes long-term functional problems. Studies have shown that shoe wedges, torque heels, and twister
cable splints are not effective. Surgery should be reserved for children 8-10 years of age who still have
cosmetically unacceptable, dysfunctional gaits. Major complications of surgery occur in approximately
15% of cases, and can include residual in-toeing, out-toeing, avascular necrosis of the femoral head,
osteomyelitis, fracture, valgus deformity, and loss of
position.Thus, observation alone is appropriate for a 5-year-old with uncomplicated anteversion.
A 4-year-old male is brought to your office by his parents who are concerned that he is increasingly
"knock-kneed." His uncle required leg braces as a child, and the parents are worried about long-term
gait abnormalities. On examination, the patient's knees touch when he stands and there is a 15° valgus
angle at the knee. He walks with a stable gait.
Which one of the following should you do now? - ✔✔This case is consistent with physiologic genu
valgus, and the parents should be reassured. Toddlers under 2 years of age typically have a varus angle
at the knee (bowlegs). This transitions to physiologic genu valgus, which gradually normalizes by around
6 years of age. As this condition is physiologic, therapies
such as surgical intervention, special bracing, and exercise programs are not indicated.
A 77-year-old male presents with significant postherpetic neuralgia in a chest wall distribution.
Which one of the following is most likely to be effective in diminishing his discomfort? - ✔✔Antiviral
drugs are useful for treatment of acute herpes zoster but not for treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.
Herpes zoster vaccine can prevent postherpetic neuralgia by reducing the incidence of herpes zoster but
it has no role in the treatment of neuralgia.
Neither acupuncture nor epidural corticosteroid
injections are helpful in treating postherpetic neuralgia.
Topical agents such as lidocaine patches and capsaicin cream or patches have been shown to reduce
symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia, as have the oral agents gabapentin, pregabalin, and amitriptyline.
A 50-year-old male presents to your office with a 1-hour history of an intense retro-orbital headache.
This started while he was jogging and eased somewhat when he stopped, but has persisted along with
some pain in his neck. Other than a blood pressure of 165/100 mm Hg, his
examination is unremarkable. Noncontrast CT of the head is also unremarkable. His pain has persisted
after 2 hours in the emergency department.Which one of the following would be most appropriate at this time? - ✔✔Early diagnosis of a
nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage is paramount for achieving a good outcome when a patient
presents with a headache that is unusually severe and feels different than other headaches. Risk factors
include smoking, hypertension, heavy alcohol use, and a family history of aneurysm or hemorrhagic
stroke. The initial evaluation should consist of noncontrast CT of the head (SOR C).
If it is negative or equivocal the next step would be to perform a lumbar puncture to determine whether
or not the cerebrospinal fluid is xanthochromic. The absence of xanthochromia rules out subarachnoid
hemorrhage (SOR C).
A 40-year-old white male presents with a 5-year history of periodic episodes of severe right-sided
headaches. During the most recent episode the headaches occurred most days during January and
February and lasted about 1 hour.
The most likely diagnosis is which one of the following? - ✔✔Cluster headache is predominantly a male
disorder. The mean age of onset is 27-30 years. Attacks often occur in cycles and are unilateral. Migraine
headaches are more common in women, start at an earlier age (second or third decade), and last longer
(4-24 hours). Temporal arteritis occurs in patients above age 50. Trigeminal neuralgia usually occurs in
paroxysms lasting 20-30 seconds.
A healthy 68-year-old male is seen in December for a routine examination. A review of his
immunizations indicates that he received a standard dose of inactivated influenza vaccine at the health
clinic in September. He received 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax 23) at age
65.
He should now receive which one of the following? - ✔✔The Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices advises that the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine be given in addition to the 23-valent vaccine,
preferably before the 23-valent vaccine.
Only one dose of influenza vaccine is recommended per season. A single dose of 23-valent
pneumococcal vaccine is all that
is required.
You would recommend pneumococcal vaccine for which one of the following? (check one)
A. A 20-year-old male who smokes 1 pack of cigarettes daily
B. A 52-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received pneumococcal vaccine 6 years agoC. A 60-year-old male who is a long-term resident of a nursing home because of a previous stroke, and
who received pneumococcal vaccine at age 54
D. A 62-year-old male with chronic renal failure who received pneumococcal vaccine at age 50 and age
55
E. A 71-year-old male with no medical problems who received pneumococcal vaccine at age 65 - ✔✔In
October 2008 the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention recommended adding cigarette smoking to the list of high-risk conditions that
are indications for the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. All persons between the ages of
19 and 64 who smoke should receive this vaccine.
One-time revaccination after 5 years is recommended for persons with chronic renal failure, asplenia
(functional or anatomic), or other immunocompromising conditions. The patient with chronic renal
failure in this question has already received two immunizations.
The diabetic patient and the nursing-home resident have both received one immunization and should
not receive a second dose until age 65.
The 71-year-old has already been immunized after age 65, and a repeat immunization is not
recommended.
A 62-year-old male comes to your office as a new patient. He has a past history of a myocardial
infarction and is currently in stage C heart failure according to the American Heart Association
classification. His ejection fraction is 30%.
Which one of the following medications that the patient is currently taking is potentially harmful and
should be discontinued if possible? - ✔✔ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers should be used
in all patients with a history of myocardial infarction and reduced ejection fraction. Aldosterone
receptor antagonists are indicated in patients who have a left ventricular ejection fraction £35%.
Nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers with negative inotropic effects (verapamil and diltiazem)
may be harmful in patients with low left ventricular ejection fractions.
Statin therapy is recommended in all patients with a history of myocardial infarction. Evidence-based Bblockers (carvedilol or metoprolol succinate) should be used in all patients with a history
of myocardial infarction.You evaluate an 18-month-old male with fecal impaction and determine that disimpaction is
indicated. Which one of the following would be most appropriate initially? - ✔✔Oral osmotics such as
polyethylene glycol-based solutions are recommended as an appropriate initial approach to constipation
in children because they are effective, easy to administer, noninvasive, and well tolerated (SOR C).
Rectal therapies are similar in terms of effectiveness but are more invasive and less
commonly used as first-line treatment (SOR A).
Oral stimulants and bisacodyl rectal suppositories are not recommended for children under 2 years of
age. Enemas are sometimes used as second-line therapy, but the addition of enemas to oral laxative
regimens does not improve outcomes in children with severe constipation (SOR B).
Manual disimpaction is a more invasive option and is not recommended as first-line treatment in young
children.
A school nurse discovers head lice on a fourth-grade student. When should the student be
permitted to return to class? - ✔✔Head lice are a common and easily treated inconvenience in schoolaged children that, unlike body lice, are not associated with significant illnesses. Transmission generally
requires head-to-head contact, as lice cannot survive when separated from their host for more than 24
hours and do not fly or hop. Visible nits are generally present at the time of diagnosis, confirming that
the infestation has been present for some
time, so immediate isolation from other children would not be expected to change the natural course of
events.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children found to be infested with lice
remain in class but be discouraged from close contact with others until treated appropriately with a
pediculicide. The AAP position also recommends abandonment of "no nits" school policies, which
prohibit attendance until no visible nits are identified. Nits can be found long after their deposition at
the scalp level and generally have already hatched by the time they are easily noted at some distance
from the scalp.
A 42-year-old female presents with a cough productive of blood-streaked sputum for the past 3
days. Her hemoptysis was preceded by several days of rhinorrhea, congestion, and subjectivefever. She estimates the total amount of blood loss to be approximately 1 tablespoon. She is a
nonsmoker and her past medical history is unremarkable. Vital signs are within normal limits,
and other than an intermittent cough there are no abnormal findings on the physical examination.
Which one of the following would be the most appropriate next step? - ✔✔The first step in the
evaluation of nonmassive hemoptysis is to obtain a chest radiograph. If this is normal and there is a high
risk of malignancy (patient age 40 years or older with at least a 30-pack year smoking history), chest CT
should be ordered. Bronchoscopy should also be considered in the workup of high-risk patients.
If a chest radiograph shows an infiltrate, treatment with antibiotics is warranted. If the chest
radiograph is normal the patient is at low risk for malignancy, and if the history does not suggest lower
respiratory infection and hemoptysis does not recur, observation can be considered.
Which one of the following is a significant risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma? - ✔✔Esophageal
adenocarcinoma has become the predominant type of esophageal cancer in North America and Europe,
and gastroesophageal reflux and obesity are the main risk factors. Helicobacter pylori infection, aspirin
therapy, NSAID use, and Crohn's disease are not significant risk factors.
In older patients with aortic stenosis and a systolic murmur, which one of the following would
be most concerning? - ✔✔When symptoms begin to appear in a patient with aortic stenosis the
prognosis worsens. It is therefore important to be aware of systolic murmurs in older patients
presenting with exertional dyspnea, chest pain, or dizziness. This can be the first presentation of a
downward spiral and the need for rapid valve replacement.
Weight loss, frequent urination, jaundice, and worsening headache are not as closely associated with a
generally worse outlook for patients with aortic stenosis.
what's the initial treatment for acute pyelo? - ✔✔Acute pyelonephritis is a common bacterial infection
of the renal pelvis and kidney most often seen in young adult women. It is most commonly caused by
Escherichia coli. Outpatient treatment with oral antibiotics is safe in most adults with mild or moderate
pyelonephritis (SOR B). An oral fluoroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin is usually the first-line therapy in
mild and moderate cases in areas where the rate of fluoroquinolone resistance in E. coli is <10% (SOR A).
If the community fluoroquinolone resistancerate exceeds 10%, a one-time dose of a parenteral antimicrobial such as ceftriaxone or a consolidated
dose of an aminoglycoside should be given, followed by an oral fluoroquinolone regimen (SOR B).
Alternative oral agents include trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and $-lactam antibiotics; however, these
are not first-line empiric agents, due to high levels of resistance (SOR A), and should not be used for
treatment until the uropathogen is confirmed to be susceptible. Amoxicillin and nitrofurantoin are
sometimes used to treat uncomplicated cystitis but these agents are less effective than other available
agents for treatment of pyelonephritis (SOR B). Erythromycin and metronidazole are not appropriate for
treating pyelonephritis.
A 40-year-old male respiratory therapist presents for a health examination prior to hospital
employment. His history indicates that as a child he lived on a farm in Iowa. His examination
is unremarkable, but a chest radiograph shows that both lung fields have BB-sized calcifications
in a miliary pattern. No other findings are noted. A PPD skin test is negative.
The findings in this patient are most likely a result of - ✔✔Asymptomatic patients in excellent health
often present with this characteristic chest radiograph pattern, which is usually due to histoplasmosis
infection, especially if the patient has been in the midwestern United States. Exposure to bird or bat
excrement is a common cause, and treatment is usually not needed. This pattern is not characteristic of
the other infections listed, although miliary tuberculosis is a remote
possibility despite the negative PPD skin test.
A 43-year-old female complains of easy bruising. She is otherwise asymptomatic. A CBC
reveals a platelet count of 23,000/mm3 (N 150,000-450,000). A peripheral smear reveals giant
platelets. A workup is negative for autoimmune causes, including Graves disease, HIV,
Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster, hepatitis C, and Helicobacter pylori. She
is on no prescription or over-the-counter medications and denies alcohol or drug use.
Which one of the following would be the most appropriate initial management? - ✔✔Immune
(idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura is an acquired immune-mediated disorder defined as
isolated thrombocytopenia not found to have another cause.Treatment is usually restricted to severe thrombocytopenic cases (platelet count <50,000/mm3) unless
there is evidence of acute bleeding. Corticosteroids are considered the first-line therapy (SOR C).
Intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab have also been used as first-line agents.
Second-line therapies include thrombopoietin-receptor agonists and splenectomy. Further evaluation,
including a bone marrow biopsy, to rule out myelodysplastic syndrome and lymphoproliferative
disorders is indicated in patients over the age of 60 (SOR C).
Platelet transfusion is not indicated in the absence of hemorrhage or a need for surgery.
A 62-year-old female undergoes elective surgery and is discharged on postoperative day 3. A week later
she is hospitalized again with pneumonia. A CBC shows that her platelet count has dropped to
150,000/mm3 (N 150,000-300,000) from 350,000 /mm3 a week ago. She received prophylactic heparin
postoperatively during her first hospitalization.
The patient is started on intravenous antibiotics for the pneumonia and subcutaneous heparin for deepvein thrombosis prophylaxis. On hospital day 2, she has an acute onset of severe dyspnea and hypoxia;
CT of the chest reveals bilateral pulmonary emboli. Her platelet count is now 80,000/mm3 .
Which one of the following would be most appropriate at this point? - ✔✔This patient needs prompt
evaluation and treatment for probable heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). HIT is a potentially lifethreatening syndrome that usually occurs within 1-2 weeks of heparin administration and is
characterized by the presence of HIT antibodies in the serum, associated with an otherwise unexplained
30%-50% decrease in the platelet count, arterial or venous thrombosis, anaphylactoid reactions
immediately following heparin administration, or skin lesions at the site of heparin injections.
Postoperative patients receiving subcutaneous unfractionated heparin prophylaxis are at highest risk for
HIT. Because of this patient's high-risk scenario and the presence of acute thrombosis, it is advisable to
begin immediate empiric treatment for HIT pending laboratory confirmation.
Management should include discontinuation of heparin and treatment with a non-heparin
anticoagulant.
A 22-year-old female with a 2-week history of paroxysmal cough is found to have pertussis
confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction test and a nasal swab culture. Which one of thefollowing is the antibiotic of choice for this patient? - ✔✔Azithromycin should be considered the
preferred agent for the treatment and prophylaxis of pertussis (SOR A). Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
is an alternative in cases of allergy or intolerance to macrolides. Because of the possibility of treatment
benefit, and because of the potential of antibiotics to decrease transmission, the CDC continues to
recommend antibiotics for the treatment of pertussis.
In order to prevent transmission of the infection, treatment should be initiated within 6 weeks of the
onset of cough in patients younger than 12 months, and within 3 weeks in all other patients.
Which one of the following is the most likely cause of chronic unilateral nasal obstruction in an adult? -
✔✔The most common cause of nasal obstruction in all age groups is the common cold, which is
classified as mucosal disease. Anatomic abnormalities, however, are the most frequent cause of
constant unilateral obstruction, with septal deviation being most common. Foreign-body impaction is an
important, but infrequent, cause of unilateral obstruction and purulent rhinorrhea. Mucosal disease is
usually bilateral and intermittent. Adenoidal hypertrophy is the most common tumor or growth to cause
nasal obstruction, followed by nasal polyps, but both are less frequent than true anatomic causes of
constant obstruction.
61-year-old female tells you that her brother was recently diagnosed with hereditary
hemochromatosis and his physician suggested that she get tested. She feels well and has no
significant health problems.
Which one of the following would be most appropriate for initial screening? - ✔✔The diagnosis of
hereditary hemochromatosis requires a random measurement of serum ferritin and calculation of
transferrin saturation. The transferrin saturation is calculated by dividing the serum iron level by the
total iron binding capacity. If the serum ferritin level is elevated (>200 ng/mL in women) or the
transferrin saturation is ³45% the HFE gene should be checked. Measurement of liver transaminases
plays a role in determining liver disease but is not helpful in the diagnosis.
A 73-year-old male is seen for follow-up of elevated blood pressure. He has no comorbidities.
His blood pressure after several months of lifestyle modifications is 160/102 mm Hg. He is
started on lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), 10 mg daily.
According to the JNC 8 panel, the blood pressure goal for this patient is which one of the following? -
✔✔TThe JNC 8 panel recommends a goal blood pressure of 150/90 mm Hg in patients age 60 and olderwith no comorbidities (SOR A). For those younger than 60 with no comorbidities the recommended goal
is <140/90 mm Hg. For patients with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal disease the goal is <140/90 mm
Hg for patients age 18 or older (SOR C).
Terminally ill cancer patients who receive palliative chemotherapy - ✔✔Although family physicians do
not prescribe chemotherapy, they are often called upon by families to help navigate the choices
specialists offer. Patients who receive palliative chemotherapy for end-stage cancers are less likely to die
at home, more likely to undergo CPR, and more likely to undergo mechanical ventilation. In addition,
these patients are referred to hospice later and there is no survival benefit.
A 58-year-old male with COPD presents with a 5-day history of increased dyspnea and purulent
sputum production. He is afebrile. His respiratory rate is 24/min, heart rate 90 beats/min, blood
pressure 140/80 mm Hg, and oxygen saturation 90% on room air. Breath sounds are equal, and
diffuse bilateral rhonchi are noted. He is currently using albuterol/ipratropium by metered-dose
inhaler three times daily.
In addition to antibiotics, which one of the following would be most appropriate for treating this
exacerbation? - ✔✔This patient most likely has a mild to moderate COPD exacerbation. His vital signs do
not indicate a serious condition at this time, so he can be treated as an outpatient. Since he is already on
a reasonable dose of an inhaled bronchodilator/anticholinergic combination, he should be treated with
an oral antibiotic
and an oral corticosteroid. Intravenous corticosteroids offer no advantages over oral therapy, provided
there are no gastrointestinal tract limitations such as poor motility or absorption.
Oral corticosteroid therapy initiated early in a COPD exacerbation reduces the rate of treatment failure,
decreases hospitalization rates, improves hypoxia and pulmonary function, and shortens the length of
stay for patients requiring hospitalization. Short courses of oral corticosteroids (5-7 days) are as effective
as longer ones (SOR A). Inhaled corticosteroids are ineffective in the treatment of a COPD exacerbation.
Intramuscular dexamethasone has no role in treating COPD.
A 12-year-old white male asthmatic has an acute episode of wheezing. You diagnose an acute asthma
attack and prescribe an inhaled β2-adrenergic agonist. After 2 hours of treatment, he continues to
experience wheezing and shortness of breath.
Which one of the following is the most appropriate addition to acute outpatient management?(check one)
A. Oral theophylline (Theo-Dur)
B. Oral corticosteroids
C. An oral β-adrenergic agonist
D. Inhaled cromolyn (Intal)
E. Inhaled corticosteroids - ✔✔The treatment of choice for occasional acute symptoms of asthma is an
inhaled β2-adrenergic agonist such as albuterol, terbutaline, or pirbuterol. If symptoms do not respond
to β-agonists, they should be treated with a short course of systemic corticosteroids. Theophylline has
limited usefulness for treatment of acute symptoms in patients with intermittent asthma; it is a less
potent bronchodilator than subcutaneous or inhaled adrenergic drugs, and therapeutic serum
concentrations can cause transient adverse effects such as nausea and central nervous system
stimulation in patients who have not been taking the drug continuously. Cromolyn can decrease airway
hyperreactivity, but has no bronchodilating activity and is useful only for prophylaxis. Inhaled
corticosteroids should be used to suppress the symptoms of chronic persistent 2 asthma. Oral β2-
selective agonists are less effective and have a slower onset of action than the same drugs given by
inhalation.
A 25-year-old male daycare worker presents with a 3-week history of bloating and foul-smelling
stools. On examination the patient has mild, diffuse abdominal tenderness and increased bowel
sounds.
Which one of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's problem? - ✔✔Daycare workers are
susceptible to giardiasis, with symptoms including bloating, flatulence, and
foul-smelling stools. This can be treated with metronidazole.
Diarrhea has several causes, requiring different management. In many cases the diarrhea is caused by a
viral or bacterial infection that is self-limited and requires only supportive measures. In some cases,
however, antibiotic treatment may be needed and it is important to determine the cause of the
diarrhea.
Patients who have recently been hospitalized for antibiotic treatment are susceptible to infection with
Clostridium difficile, and should be treated with metronidazole. Travelers to less developed countries
often develop travelers' diarrhea from ingesting contaminated food or water. This is most often due to
enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, although travelers can also have Norovirus infections. The most
appropriate antibiotic choice in this situation is ciprofloxacin.Patients who become ill after an event where food is served and several attendees have similar
symptoms should be suspected of having a Campylobacter infection if the symptoms include bloody
diarrhea. This should also be treated with ciprofloxacin.
WHat is true about norwalk virus? - ✔✔Outbreaks of Norwalk gastroenteritis occur in a wide variety of
settings, involve all ages, and are more likely to involve high-risk groups such as immunocompromised
patients or the elderly. Not only does viral shedding of the Norwalk virus often precede the onset of
illness, but it can continue long after the illness has clinically ended. The virus persists on environmental
surfaces and can tolerate a broad range of temperatures. There are multiple strains of the virus, so a
single infection does not confer immunity, and repeated infections occur throughout life. It is the most
common cause of diarrhea in adults.
Norovirus is a very common cause of acute viral gastroenteritis, usually with more vomiting than
diarrhea. It spreads person to person, and patients usually recover within 24 hours.
A 74-year-old male presents with a 4-day history of diarrhea that he had initially thought was "a 24-hour
virus." He states that the onset of his illness included nausea, one episode of vomiting, and profuse
diarrhea. He has felt feverish and has been having abdominal cramps. He does not recall eating anything
unusual and has not traveled recently. On examination he appears uncomfortable, but in no real
distress. His oral temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F), blood pressure 134/82 mm Hg, and pulse rate 100
beats/min. He has lost 4 kg (9 lb) since his last visit 2 months earlier. His abdomen is soft, with
hyperactive bowel sounds and mild diffuse tenderness on palpation. A CBC and basic metabolic profile
are normal.
Which one of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's illness? - ✔✔Campylobacter jejuni is
one of the most common causes of bacterial foodborne illnesses, estimated to affect 1 million
Americans annually. Undercooked or improperly handled chicken is most often implicated as the source;
surveys have demonstrated that between 20% and 100% of all retail chicken sold in the United States is
contaminated. The infection is generally isolated and sporadic, occurs more frequently at the extremes
of age, is most common during the summer months, and affects males disproportionately. Symptoms
typically begin 2-5 days following exposure. Diarrhea is the predominant symptom, with a lesser degree
of nausea and vomiting. Up to 10 days is required for full recovery.
While Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Shigella may cause a similar illness, both generally present with
bloody diarrhea. E. coli O157:H7 is most often transmitted in contaminated undercooked beef, and
Shigella is usually spread in a fecal-oral pattern or via contaminated water. The peripheral WBC count is
typically increased substantially in shigellosis. Staphylococcus aureus produces an enterotoxin in food
that causes the onset of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea within hours of ingestion and clears within 24-48 hours. Norovirus is a very common cause of acute viral gastroenteritis, usually with more vomiting
than diarrhea. It spreads person to person, and patients usually recover within 24 hours.
A 47-year-old male is preparing for a 3-day trip to central Mexico to present the keynote address for an
international law symposium. He asks you for an antibiotic to be taken prophylactically to prevent
bacterial diarrhea.
Which one of the following would you recommend? (check one)
A. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)
B. Rifaximin (Xifaxan)
C. Doxycycline
D. Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) - ✔✔While prophylactic antibiotics are not generally recommended for
prevention of traveler's diarrhea, they may be useful under special circumstances for certain high-risk
hosts, such as the immunocompromised, or for those embarking on critical short trips for which even a
short period of diarrhea might cause undue hardship. Rifaximin, a nonabsorbable antibiotic, has been
shown to reduce the risk for traveler's diarrhea by 77%. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and
doxycycline are no longer considered effective antimicrobial agents against enteric bacterial pathogens.
Increasing resistance to the fluoroquinolones, especially among Campylobacter species, is limiting their
use as prophylactic agents.
A 56-year-old female with well-controlled diabetes mellitus and hypertension presents with an 18-hour
history of progressive left lower quadrant abdominal pain, low-grade fever, and nausea. She has not
been able to tolerate oral intake over the last 6 hours. An abdominal examin
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