Management of Penetrating Neck Trauma

Abstract

A retrospective study of 20 cases of penetrating trauma to neck is presented. Ten patients had zone I injury, 8 had zone II injury and 2 had zone 3 injury. All the patients with zone IT injuries were explored. There were two negative explorations and one mortality, 8 patients with zone 1 injury were explored having evidence of vascular, visceral or neurological injury on clinical examination. All the patients with Zone HI injury were managed conservatively. Larynx was the most commonly injured viscera. Infection was the most common complication. Penetrating neck injuries can be managed selectively. Clinical examination is very reliable in detecting vascular, visceral and neurological injuries if performed repeatedly.