Nose and paranasal sinuses: zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture: 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 and paranasal sinuses: zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture

Sample item

A cricketer struck by a ball has flattening of the cheek, numbness of the cheek and upper lip, a subconjunctival haemorrhage, and tenderness at the lateral orbital rim, the inferior orbital rim and the zygomatic buttress. Which fracture is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Zygomaticomaxillary complex (tripod) fracture

The tripod fracture separates the zygoma at the frontozygomatic suture, the inferior orbital rim and the zygomaticomaxillary buttress. Infraorbital nerve injury causes cheek and lip numbness, and trismus can occur from impingement on the coronoid.

Option by option

  • A. Isolated nasal bone fracture

    An isolated nasal fracture gives swelling and deviation of the nose without orbital rim tenderness.

  • B. Mandibular body fracture

    A mandibular body fracture causes malocclusion and lower lip numbness and does not involve the orbital rim.

  • C. Zygomaticomaxillary complex (tripod) fracture (correct)

    Correct. Three tender separation sites with cheek flattening and infraorbital numbness indicate a tripod fracture.

  • D. Le Fort I fracture

    A Le Fort I fracture separates the tooth-bearing maxilla horizontally, with a mobile upper jaw and malocclusion.

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.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Zygomaticomaxillary complex (tripod) fracture. The tripod fracture separates the zygoma at the frontozygomatic suture, the inferior orbital rim and the zygomaticomaxillary buttress.

Why is "Isolated nasal bone fracture" not the answer?

An isolated nasal fracture gives swelling and deviation of the nose without orbital rim tenderness.

Why is "Mandibular body fracture" not the answer?

A mandibular body fracture causes malocclusion and lower lip numbness and does not involve the orbital rim.

Why is "Le Fort I fracture" not the answer?

A Le Fort I fracture separates the tooth-bearing maxilla horizontally, with a mobile upper jaw and malocclusion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture in ENT. Infraorbital nerve injury causes cheek and lip numbness, and trismus can occur from impingement on the coronoid.

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 and paranasal sinuses: zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture?

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.