What trauma would be induced from #2?

• A. Inferior vertical strain
• B. Right lateral strain
• C. Left lateral strain
• D. Right sidebending rotation

Answer: (B)

A lateral strain pattern is produced when the sphenobasilar complex is displaced to one side, with the sphenoid and occiput rotating in opposite directions about an axis roughly perpendicular to the direction of displacement. A right lateral strain means the sphenobasilar complex has shifted toward the right.

Trauma that creates this pattern comes from a lateral force that pushes the base of the skull so the SBS moves to the right. In practice, this is the kind of side-impact force that leads to a unilateral (right-sided) lateral deviation of the SBS. The hallmark is rotation of the sphenoid and occiput in opposite directions with the SBS tracking to the right.

Other patterns describe different motions: an inferior vertical strain would show downward movement of the SBS; a left lateral strain would mirror this to the left; a right sidebending rotation combines sidebending and rotation in a specific coupled pattern rather than a simple lateral shift. The description given aligns with a rightward, pure lateral deviation, hence the correct choice.