Labour: perineal tears: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Labour: perineal tears

Sample item

A woman sustains a perineal tear involving more than 50 per cent thickness of the external anal sphincter. How is it classified?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Third-degree tear, grade 3b

Third-degree tears involve the anal sphincter complex: 3a is less than 50 per cent of the external sphincter, 3b is more than 50 per cent, and 3c involves the internal sphincter too. A fourth-degree tear includes the anal epithelium. Repair is done in theatre by an experienced operator with antibiotics.

Option by option

  • A. Third-degree tear, grade 3a

    3a is less than 50 per cent thickness.

  • B. Third-degree tear, grade 3b (correct)

    Correct. More than 50 per cent EAS is 3b.

  • C. Fourth-degree tear

    Fourth-degree involves the anorectal mucosa.

  • D. Second-degree tear

    A second-degree tear involves perineal muscles but not the sphincter.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is B, Third-degree tear, grade 3b. Third-degree tears involve the anal sphincter complex: 3a is less than 50 per cent of the external sphincter, 3b is more than 50 per cent, and 3c involves the internal sphincter too.

Why is "Third-degree tear, grade 3a" not the answer?

3a is less than 50 per cent thickness.

Why is "Fourth-degree tear" not the answer?

Fourth-degree involves the anorectal mucosa.

Why is "Second-degree tear" not the answer?

A second-degree tear involves perineal muscles but not the sphincter.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Labour: perineal tears in OBG. A fourth-degree tear includes the anal epithelium. Repair is done in theatre by an experienced operator with antibiotics.

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 Labour: perineal tears?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.