Which trauma is associated with the number 5 in the sequence?

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

Answer: (C)

Trauma patterns at the cranial base reflect how the sphenobasilar synchondrosis and surrounding bones shift from midline. A lateral strain is a sideways shear: the SBS is displaced to one side, producing a distinct pattern of motion and palpatory findings. When the trauma force pushes the skull to the right, the rightward displacement manifests as a right lateral strain—the bones on the right side appear relatively compressed while the left side lengthens, and you’ll feel a sideways alignment shift on examination.

In the sequence used for this item, the fifth position corresponds to this lateral, side-to-side pattern. So the trauma-related presentation described aligns with a right lateral strain, making it the best match. The other options describe different motion patterns (torsion, left lateral strain, left sidebending rotation) that involve different axes or directions and do not fit the rightward shear pattern indicated by the sequence.