Certified Emergency Nurse Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

Trismus, or the inability to open the mouth fully, is a common symptom associated with a zygomatic fracture. This occurs due to the anatomical proximity of the zygomatic bone to the muscles and joints responsible for jaw movement. When a zygomatic fracture occurs, it can cause swelling, muscle spasm, or displacement that impairs the normal functioning of the jaw, leading to trismus.

In contrast, the other options involve different clinical situations or injuries that are not typically associated with zygomatic fractures. For instance, protruding objects in the eye pertain more to ocular trauma rather than a fracture of the zygomatic bone. The application of an eye patch might be a treatment method in cases of eye injury, but it does not directly relate to the symptoms of a zygomatic fracture. Lastly, blood accumulation in the anterior chamber, known as hyphema, is typically related to trauma to the eye itself rather than specifically to the zygomatic area. Thus, trismus stands out as the most relevant and common symptom linked to zygomatic fractures.