Trauma and burns: midfacial fracture pattern: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Trauma and burns: midfacial fracture pattern

Sample item

After a road accident a man has facial swelling, epistaxis and a step deformity at both infraorbital margins. When the upper teeth are gripped and pushed, the central midface and nasal bridge move together as one unit. Which fracture pattern is this?

ALe Fort IBLe Fort IICLe Fort IIIDIsolated zygomatic arch fracture

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Le Fort II

A Le Fort II fracture runs across the nasal bridge, medial orbital walls and infraorbital rims, then through the maxilla, so the central midface and nose are mobile together. Le Fort I separates only the tooth-bearing palate, and Le Fort III separates the whole face from the skull base.

Option by option

A. Le Fort I
Le Fort I leaves the nose fixed and only the hard palate and teeth move.
B. Le Fort II (correct)
Correct. Mobility of the nose and maxilla with infraorbital steps indicates Le Fort II.
C. Le Fort III
Le Fort III produces craniofacial disjunction with mobility of the whole face including the zygomas.
D. Isolated zygomatic arch fracture
An isolated zygomatic arch fracture does not make the central midface mobile.

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.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Le Fort II. A Le Fort II fracture runs across the nasal bridge, medial orbital walls and infraorbital rims, then through the maxilla, so the central midface and nose are mobile together.

Why is "Le Fort I" not the answer?

Le Fort I leaves the nose fixed and only the hard palate and teeth move.

Why is "Le Fort III" not the answer?

Le Fort III produces craniofacial disjunction with mobility of the whole face including the zygomas.

Why is "Isolated zygomatic arch fracture" not the answer?

An isolated zygomatic arch fracture does not make the central midface mobile.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma and burns: midfacial fracture pattern in General Surgery. Le Fort I separates only the tooth-bearing palate, and Le Fort III separates the whole face from the skull base.

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 Trauma and burns: midfacial fracture pattern?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.