USMLE® Step 2 CK · chapter MSK

Musculoskeletal & Rheumatology: USMLE® Step 2 CK topics

19 topics. Each one opens a review page with its guideline basis and key clinical sections, then links the QuestionBank questions, ChartWalk flowchart, FlashCards and ImageBank plates that share its code.

1. Acute compartment syndrome — recognition & fasciotomy

   MSK-COMP-0114 questions · Review Book p. 520 · AAOS Management of Acute Compartment Syndrome CPG 2025 (adult traumatic extremities); BOASt Compartment Syndrome of the Extremities, revised July 2025.

2. Back pain — mechanical versus red-flag patterns

   MSK-SPINE-0118 questions · Review Book p. 532 · 2017 ACP Low Back Pain Guideline

3. Crystal arthropathies — gout & pseudogout

   MSK-RHEUM-0360 questions · Review Book p. 526 · 2020 ACR Gout Management; 2011 EULAR CPPD Recommendations; 2023 ACR/EULAR CPPD Classification Criteria

4. Fracture description, healing & imaging decision rules

   MSK-FRAC-0110 questions · Review Book p. 511 · 1992 Ottawa Ankle Rules; 1995 Ottawa Knee Rule; Canadian C-Spine Rule

5. Fracture patterns concerning for child abuse

   MSK-FRAC-0621 questions · Review Book p. 517 · AAP Evaluating Young Children With Fractures for Child Abuse (2025); ACR Suspected Physical Abuse–Child (revised 2025).

6. Fracture-associated nerve & vascular injuries

   MSK-FRAC-038 questions · Review Book p. 513 · ATLS 10th ed (2018); EAST 2012 extremity vascular injury; AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures

7. Growth plate & pediatric fracture patterns

   MSK-FRAC-0225 questions · Review Book p. 512 · 2011/2020 AAOS Supracondylar Humerus and Distal Radius Fractures; Salter-Harris classification (1963)

8. Hip fractures — classification, management & complications

   MSK-FRAC-0410 questions · Review Book p. 515 · 2021 AAOS Management of Hip Fractures in Older Adults

9. Joint dislocations & common sports injuries

   MSK-JOINT-027 questions · Review Book p. 519 · 2025 AAOS Rotator Cuff Injuries

10. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis — subtypes & treatment

    MSK-PEDS-018 questions · Review Book p. 529 · ACR 2026 JIA Guideline Summary (13 May); ACR/AF 2019 Uveitis Risk Stratification.

11. Knee injuries — ligament, meniscus & patellar

    MSK-JOINT-018 questions · Review Book p. 518 · AAOS ACL CPG 2022; AAOS acute isolated meniscus CPG 2024.

12. Limping child & pediatric hip disorders

    MSK-PEDS-0241 questions · Review Book p. 530 · AAOS 2022 DDH Guideline; AAP 2016 DDH Report (reaffirmed 2021).

13. Metabolic bone disease — osteoporosis & Paget disease

    MSK-BONE-0184 questions · Review Book p. 534 · USPSTF osteoporosis screening 2025; ISCD 2023.

14. Open fractures — Gustilo-Anderson classification & care

    MSK-FRAC-051 questions · Review Book p. 516 · AAST Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Injury Clinical Consensus 2024 (adult ≥16 y); SIS Open Extremity Fractures Guidelines 2022 (adult evidence).

15. Osteoarthritis — diagnosis & management ladder

    MSK-RHEUM-047 questions · Review Book p. 528 · 2019 ACR/Arthritis Foundation OA guideline (2020 publication); NICE NG226 (2022).

16. Osteomyelitis & septic arthritis — diagnosis & treatment

    MSK-INF-0162 questions · Review Book p. 521 · IDSA 2015 Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis; PIDS/IDSA 2021 Pediatric Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis; PIDS/IDSA 2023 Pediatric Septic Arthritis; IWGDF/IDSA 2023 Diabetic Foot

17. Other/rare rheumatologic & soft-tissue MSK conditions

    MSK-OTHER-0183 questions · Review Book p. 537 · 2021 ACR/VF GCA Management; 2022 ACR/EULAR GCA Classification; 2017 EULAR/ACR Inflammatory Myopathy; 2023 IMACS Myositis Cancer Screening

18. Rheumatoid arthritis — classification, methotrexate monitoring & biologic safety

    MSK-RHEUM-0116 questions · Review Book p. 523 · 2021 ACR Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Guidelines

19. Seronegative spondyloarthropathies

    MSK-RHEUM-0281 questions · Review Book p. 524 · 2019 ACR/SAA/SPARTAN and 2023 ASAS/EULAR axSpA; 2021 GRAPPA Treatment Recommendations for Psoriatic Arthritis

Written and clinically reviewed by TheCodexes.com (editorial policy). Guideline citations are the primary sources each topic follows.