NEET-PG 2024 — Orthopaedics

Q: An 18-year-old boy presents with tenderness, warmth over the bone, and fever, ESR and CRP levels. The radiograph is shown below. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Osteomyelitis. ***Osteomyelitis*** - The presentation of **tenderness**, **warmth over the bone**, **fever**, and elevated **ESR** and **CRP** are classic signs of a bone infection, or osteomyelitis. - While not explicitly shown in the provided text, a radiograph in acute osteomyelitis might show **soft tissue swelling** or subtle **periosteal elevation**, progressing to **bone destruction** and **sclerosis** in later stages. *Ewing's sarcoma* - This is a highly malignant bone tumor that presents with **pain** and **swelling**, but is typically not associated with a pronounced **fever** and signs of systemic infection. - Radiographically, it often shows an "onion-skin" **periosteal reaction** and lytic lesions, without the strong inflammatory markers seen here. *Osteosarcoma* - This is another malignant bone tumor, primarily presenting with bone **pain** and **swelling**, but systemic inflammatory signs like **fever** are rare unless there is a pathologic fracture or infection secondary to tumor necrosis. - Radiographs typically show a "sunburst" appearance, **Codman's triangle**, or mixed lytic and blastic lesions, not indicative of acute infection. *Giant cell tumor* - This is a usually **benign aggressive bone tumor** that causes **pain** and **swelling** around joints. - It does not typically present with systemic signs of infection such as **fever** and significantly elevated **ESR** and **CRP** unless there is a secondary infection, and it usually affects the **epiphyses** of long bones in young adults.

11 Questions — Page 2 of 2

Q11

An 18-year-old boy presents with tenderness, warmth over the bone, and fever, ESR and CRP levels. The radiograph is shown below. What is the most likely diagnosis?