Birth Injuries – Recognition MCQ Quiz | Neonatology

Welcome, MBBS students! This quiz is designed to test your knowledge on the recognition and differentiation of common birth injuries in neonates. Covering a range of conditions from scalp swellings like caput succedaneum and cephalohematoma to complex nerve palsies like Erb’s and Klumpke’s, these questions will challenge your diagnostic acumen. This is a crucial topic in neonatology, as timely recognition is key to appropriate management and preventing long-term complications. Assess your understanding, identify areas for improvement, and solidify your learning. After completing the quiz, you can review your score and download all the questions with their correct answers in a PDF format for your future reference and revision. Good luck!

1. A newborn presents with a soft, pitting, edematous swelling on the scalp that crosses suture lines. What is the most likely diagnosis?

2. Which of the following birth injuries is a collection of blood between the periosteum and the skull bone, and is strictly limited by suture lines?

3. A newborn develops a diffuse, boggy scalp swelling that shifts with movement and shows signs of expanding. The infant is becoming pale and tachycardic. This is most characteristic of:

4. The “waiter’s tip” posture in a newborn, characterized by an adducted, internally rotated arm with a pronated forearm, is indicative of which nerve injury?

5. The most commonly fractured bone during birth is the:

6. An absent grasp reflex in the presence of intact elbow and shoulder movement is characteristic of:

7. A newborn delivered via forceps presents with an asymmetric crying face, where the affected side of the mouth does not move downwards. The eye on the same side does not close completely. This suggests an injury to which cranial nerve?

8. Unilateral elevation of the diaphragm on a chest X-ray in a neonate with respiratory distress is a classic sign of:

9. Horner’s syndrome (ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis) is most commonly associated with which type of brachial plexus injury?

10. Crepitus and an asymmetric Moro reflex are key clinical findings for which of the following injuries?

11. A “claw hand” deformity is associated with injury to which nerve roots?

12. Which statement correctly differentiates a cephalohematoma from a caput succedaneum?

13. The most common intra-abdominal organ injured during birth is the:

14. A newborn presents with a head tilt to one side and a palpable, firm, non-tender mass in the neck. This is characteristic of an injury to which muscle?

15. Retinal hemorrhages in a newborn are:

16. A flail, senseless arm with an absent Moro, biceps, and radial reflex indicates:

17. A “ping-pong” skull fracture is a type of:

18. A hoarse cry or aphonia in a newborn following a difficult delivery should raise suspicion for injury to which nerve?

19. Which of the following is NOT a major risk factor for brachial plexus injury?

20. In a newborn with a femoral shaft fracture, the typical presentation is:

21. The presence of a “double-bubble” sign on an abdominal X-ray is indicative of duodenal atresia, not a birth injury. Which of these is a sign of a liver laceration?

22. Spinal cord injury at birth is a rare but devastating event, most often caused by:

23. A key feature of Erb’s palsy (C5-C6) is:

24. Which birth injury is associated with the potential for massive blood loss leading to hypovolemic shock?

25. A newborn has a palpable flank mass, anemia, and jaundice. Ultrasonography confirms a retroperitoneal hematoma. What is the most likely source of bleeding?