Injuries and wounds: diaphragmatic rupture: practice question

A Forensic Medicine 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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Forensic Medicine · Injuries and wounds: diaphragmatic rupture

Sample item

After a road accident, a chest radiograph shows a nasogastric tube coiled in the left chest and the stomach bubble above the diaphragm. What is the injury?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Rupture of the left hemidiaphragm

Blunt trauma ruptures the diaphragm, more often on the left because the liver protects the right side. Stomach herniation into the chest and a coiled tube are typical. Oesophageal and aortic injuries have other radiological signs.

Option by option

  • A. Perforation of the oesophagus

    Oesophageal perforation shows mediastinal air and does not place the stomach in the chest.

  • B. Transection of the aortic isthmus

    Aortic transection shows a widened mediastinum and does not herniate the stomach.

  • C. Rupture of the left hemidiaphragm (correct)

    Correct. Herniated stomach and a coiled tube indicate left diaphragm rupture.

  • D. Rupture of the right hemidiaphragm

    The right side is protected by the liver and herniation of stomach does not occur there.

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 Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Rupture of the left hemidiaphragm. Blunt trauma ruptures the diaphragm, more often on the left because the liver protects the right side.

Why is "Perforation of the oesophagus" not the answer?

Oesophageal perforation shows mediastinal air and does not place the stomach in the chest.

Why is "Transection of the aortic isthmus" not the answer?

Aortic transection shows a widened mediastinum and does not herniate the stomach.

Why is "Rupture of the right hemidiaphragm" not the answer?

The right side is protected by the liver and herniation of stomach does not occur there.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries and wounds: diaphragmatic rupture in Forensic Medicine. Stomach herniation into the chest and a coiled tube are typical. Oesophageal and aortic injuries have other radiological signs.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Injuries and wounds: diaphragmatic rupture?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine 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.