Ocular trauma: canalicular laceration: practice question

A Ophthalmology 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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Ophthalmology · Ocular trauma: canalicular laceration

Sample item

A child with a dog bite has a laceration of the medial lower lid involving the canaliculus. What is the ideal management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Early primary repair with silicone intubation

Canalicular lacerations should be repaired early with intubation by a silicone stent to maintain patency and avoid epiphora. Skin sutures alone leave a severed duct. Dacryocystorhinostomy and plugs are not primary treatments.

Option by option

  • A. Early primary repair with silicone intubation (correct)

    Correct. Early repair with a silicone stent preserves tear drainage.

  • B. Delayed dacryocystorhinostomy

    Dacryocystorhinostomy is a secondary procedure for sac or duct obstruction.

  • C. Simple skin suturing only

    Skin suturing alone leaves the canaliculus severed and causes epiphora.

  • D. Punctal plug insertion

    A plug blocks drainage and is used for dry eye.

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 Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is A, Early primary repair with silicone intubation. Canalicular lacerations should be repaired early with intubation by a silicone stent to maintain patency and avoid epiphora.

Why is "Delayed dacryocystorhinostomy" not the answer?

Dacryocystorhinostomy is a secondary procedure for sac or duct obstruction.

Why is "Simple skin suturing only" not the answer?

Skin suturing alone leaves the canaliculus severed and causes epiphora.

Why is "Punctal plug insertion" not the answer?

A plug blocks drainage and is used for dry eye.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ocular trauma: canalicular laceration in Ophthalmology. Skin sutures alone leave a severed duct. Dacryocystorhinostomy and plugs are not primary treatments.

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 Ocular trauma: canalicular laceration?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology 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.