Nose: septal haematoma: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Nose: septal haematoma

Sample item

After a blow to the nose, a boy has bilateral nasal obstruction and a soft, bluish, fluctuant swelling on both sides of the septum. What is the correct management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Prompt incision and drainage with anterior packing

A septal haematoma lifts the perichondrium, deprives cartilage of nutrition and risks necrosis and saddle deformity or abscess. It must be drained promptly and the nose packed to prevent reaccumulation.

Option by option

  • A. Oral decongestants

    Decongestants will not remove the clot.

  • B. Prompt incision and drainage with anterior packing (correct)

    Correct. Prompt drainage with packing prevents cartilage necrosis.

  • C. Septoplasty after six months

    Late septoplasty does not prevent saddling.

  • D. Observation for a week

    Waiting risks cartilage loss and abscess.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Prompt incision and drainage with anterior packing. A septal haematoma lifts the perichondrium, deprives cartilage of nutrition and risks necrosis and saddle deformity or abscess.

Why is "Oral decongestants" not the answer?

Decongestants will not remove the clot.

Why is "Septoplasty after six months" not the answer?

Late septoplasty does not prevent saddling.

Why is "Observation for a week" not the answer?

Waiting risks cartilage loss and abscess.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose: septal haematoma in ENT. It must be drained promptly and the nose packed to prevent reaccumulation.

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 Nose: septal haematoma?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.