Oral and maxillofacial surgery: bilateral parasymphyseal fracture: 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: bilateral parasymphyseal fracture

Sample item

A man with a bilateral parasymphyseal fracture lies supine and becomes noisy and stridorous. The anterior mandibular segment is displaced backward. What is the immediate action?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pull the tongue and the anterior segment forward and secure the airway

The genioglossus and geniohyoid pull the free anterior segment backward, so the tongue loses support and obstructs the airway. Pulling the segment and tongue forward, placing a tongue suture, and securing the airway take priority over imaging.

Option by option

  • A. Give oral analgesia and sit upright without checks

    Analgesia alone does not relieve obstruction from loss of tongue support.

  • B. Immediate intermaxillary fixation

    IMF might worsen airway compromise in an acute setting and is done later.

  • C. Send for a facial CT first

    Imaging should not delay airway management.

  • D. Pull the tongue and the anterior segment forward and secure the airway (correct)

    Correct. Airway protection is the priority.

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, Pull the tongue and the anterior segment forward and secure the airway. The genioglossus and geniohyoid pull the free anterior segment backward, so the tongue loses support and obstructs the airway.

Why is "Give oral analgesia and sit upright without checks" not the answer?

Analgesia alone does not relieve obstruction from loss of tongue support.

Why is "Immediate intermaxillary fixation" not the answer?

IMF might worsen airway compromise in an acute setting and is done later.

Why is "Send for a facial CT first" not the answer?

Imaging should not delay airway management.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: bilateral parasymphyseal fracture in Dentistry. Pulling the segment and tongue forward, placing a tongue suture, and securing the airway take priority over imaging.

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 Oral and maxillofacial surgery: bilateral parasymphyseal fracture?

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.