A 20-year-old male presents with a displaced fracture of the mandibular condyle following a blow to the chin. He has deviation of the jaw to the affected side on opening and premature contact of the posterior teeth on the contralateral side. Which muscle is primarily responsible for the displacement of the condylar fragment?

• A Masseter
• B Temporalis
• C Medial pterygoid
• D Lateral pterygoid ✓

Explanation

The lateral pterygoid muscle inserts onto the pterygoid fovea of the condylar neck. In condylar neck fractures, the pull of the lateral pterygoid displaces the condylar fragment anteromedially. This explains the clinical findings of deviation toward the affected side (unopposed contralateral lateral pterygoid) and premature contact on the opposite side (loss of vertical height on the fractured side).

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 28th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.