Oral and maxillofacial surgery: septal haematoma: 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: septal haematoma

Sample item

A boy has a nasal injury two days ago and now has a bilateral smooth, red, boggy swelling on both sides of the septum with nasal blockage. What is the correct management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Urgent incision and drainage with packing

A septal haematoma lifts the perichondrium off the cartilage, cutting its blood supply. Delay causes cartilage necrosis and a saddle nose or abscess, so it is drained urgently.

Option by option

  • A. Nasal decongestant drops

    Decongestants do not remove a collection of blood.

  • B. Observation for a week

    Waiting risks cartilage necrosis and abscess.

  • C. Antihistamines

    Antihistamines have no role in a traumatic collection.

  • D. Urgent incision and drainage with packing (correct)

    Correct. Drainage prevents avascular necrosis of the septal cartilage.

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, Urgent incision and drainage with packing. A septal haematoma lifts the perichondrium off the cartilage, cutting its blood supply.

Why is "Nasal decongestant drops" not the answer?

Decongestants do not remove a collection of blood.

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

Waiting risks cartilage necrosis and abscess.

Why is "Antihistamines" not the answer?

Antihistamines have no role in a traumatic collection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: septal haematoma in Dentistry. Delay causes cartilage necrosis and a saddle nose or abscess, so it is drained urgently.

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: septal haematoma?

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.