Anesthesia Knowledge Test 24 (AKT-24) Practice 2025 – Comprehensive All-In-One Guide to Master Your Exam!

The lesser occipital and greater auricular nerves play a critical role in managing post-operative pain specifically for procedures related to ear surgery, such as otoplasties. The greater auricular nerve provides sensation to the posterior aspect of the ear and the overlying skin, which are areas that can experience significant discomfort after surgery. Blocking this nerve can lead to effective analgesia in the operated area.

Similarly, the lesser occipital nerve covers the skin of the posterior scalp and a small area of the upper neck. By targeting these nerves during anesthetic interventions, healthcare professionals can significantly reduce pain perception during the recovery phase for patients undergoing otoplasty.

The other options involve nerves that do not provide adequate sensory innervation to the areas affected by otoplastic surgery. Options involving the facial and mandibular nerves primarily deal with the lower face and jaw area, while the trigeminal and maxillary nerves are more relevant for pain in the mid-face and areas innervated by them, which do not directly correspond to the ear structures impacted by otoplasty.