Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: tetanus prophylaxis in facial wounds: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: tetanus prophylaxis in facial wounds

Sample item

A farmer has a soil-contaminated facial laceration after a fall and has never received tetanus vaccination. Which prophylaxis is appropriate?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Tetanus toxoid with human tetanus immunoglobulin at separate sites

For a tetanus-prone wound in an unimmunised patient, passive protection with human tetanus immunoglobulin is given together with active immunisation using toxoid, at different sites with separate syringes. Wound cleaning and debridement remain essential.

Option by option

  • A. Oral antibiotics alone

    Antibiotics do not neutralise the toxin and are not a substitute.

  • B. Tetanus toxoid alone

    Toxoid alone takes time to produce antibodies and does not give immediate protection.

  • C. Tetanus immunoglobulin alone

    Immunoglobulin alone gives short-lived protection without starting active immunity.

  • D. Tetanus toxoid with human tetanus immunoglobulin at separate sites (correct)

    Correct. Both passive and active immunisation are needed in an unimmunised patient with a dirty wound.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Tetanus toxoid with human tetanus immunoglobulin at separate sites. For a tetanus-prone wound in an unimmunised patient, passive protection with human tetanus immunoglobulin is given together with active immunisation using toxoid, at different sites with separate syringes.

Why is "Oral antibiotics alone" not the answer?

Antibiotics do not neutralise the toxin and are not a substitute.

Why is "Tetanus toxoid alone" not the answer?

Toxoid alone takes time to produce antibodies and does not give immediate protection.

Why is "Tetanus immunoglobulin alone" not the answer?

Immunoglobulin alone gives short-lived protection without starting active immunity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: tetanus prophylaxis in facial wounds in Dentistry. Wound cleaning and debridement remain essential.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: tetanus prophylaxis in facial wounds?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.