J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  1998 Mar;9(1):97-103.

Management of Penetrating Neck Injuries

• Kim YJ
• Kim JK
• Park IS
• Chi HS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The management of penetrating neck injuries presents a difficult problem. Although many authors have stated that surgical exploration should be mandatory for all neck injuries that penetrate platysma, recent reports from many centers now claim selective exploration. The aim of this study was to review a policy of selective neck exploration based on clinical presentation, anatomic location, and the result of diagnostic studies. METHOD: We reviewed retrospectively medical records of 66 patients who were admitted and managed at Yongdong Severance hospital, Yonsei university college of medicine due to penetrating neck injuries from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1996.
RESULTS
Forty-one patients(62%) were underwent immediate neck exploration, while the remaining 25 patients(38%) were admitted and observed. Three had esophagoscopy, four had esophagogram, and three had direct laryngoscopy, all of which revealed normal result except one patient had blood tinged larynx on laryngoscopy. Results of 12 neck explorations(29%) were negative. There was no delayed diagnosis during conservative treatment. There was no mortality.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that selective exploration of penetrating neck injuries is both safe and resonable.

MeSH Terms

Delayed Diagnosis
Esophagoscopy
Humans
Laryngoscopy
Larynx
Medical Records
Mortality
Neck Injuries*
Neck*
Retrospective Studies
Tolnaftate
Tolnaftate