Penetrating neck trauma: Difference between revisions

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| Airway compromise ||Subcutaneous emphysema
| Airway compromise ||Subcutaneous emphysema
|-
|-
| Air bubbling wound||Dysphagia, dyspnea
| Air bubbling wound||[[Dysphagia]], [[dyspnea]]
|-
|-
| Expanding or pulsatile hematoma||Non-pulsatile, non-expanding hematoma
| Expanding or pulsatile hematoma||Non-pulsatile, non-expanding hematoma
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| Active Bleeding||Venous oozing
| Active Bleeding||Venous oozing
|-
|-
| Shock, compromised radial pulse ||Chest tube air leak
| [[Shock]], compromised radial pulse ||Chest tube air leak
|-
|-
| Hematemesis ||Minor hematemesis
| [[Hematemesis]] ||Minor hematemesis
|-
|-
| Neuro Deficit/Paralysis/Cerebral ischemia ||Paresthesias  
| [[focal neuro deficits|Neuro Deficit]]/[[weakness|Paralysis]]/[[CVA|Cerebral ischemia]] ||[[Paresthesias]]
|}
|}


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**One attempt at intubation by most experienced provider with tube one size smaller<ref>Newton K, Claudius I: Neck in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2013, (Ch) 44: pp 425-257.</ref>
**One attempt at intubation by most experienced provider with tube one size smaller<ref>Newton K, Claudius I: Neck in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2013, (Ch) 44: pp 425-257.</ref>
***If failure, surgical airway should be performed
***If failure, surgical airway should be performed
***Emergency tracheostomy preferred to cricothyrotomy
***Emergency [[tracheostomy]] preferred to [[cricothyrotomy]]
**Consider intubation if:  
**Consider intubation if:  
***Stridor  
***[[Stridor]]
***Hemoptysis  
***[[Hemoptysis]]
***Subq emphysema  
***Subcutaneous emphysema  
***Expanding hematoma  
***Expanding hematoma  
*Breathing  
*Breathing  
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**Neuro deficits may be secondary to direct cord injury or cerebral ischemia secondary to carotid injury  
**Neuro deficits may be secondary to direct cord injury or cerebral ischemia secondary to carotid injury  
**Place in C-collar if:  
**Place in C-collar if:  
***ALOC, neuro deficits, or sig. blunt injury
***ALOC, [[focal neuro deficits|neuro deficits]], or significant blunt injury


===By Zone===
===By Zone===
====Zone I====
====Zone I====
*Portable CXR
*Portable [[CXR]]
*Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
*Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
*Vascular control can be difficult; requires thoracic surgical approach
*Vascular control can be difficult; requires thoracic surgical approach
Line 117: Line 117:
**Routine exploration of zone III is not indicated
**Routine exploration of zone III is not indicated
===By Structure===
===By Structure===
====Esophagus====
====[[esophageal injury|Esophagus]]====
*Injuries are often initially asymptomatic
*Injuries are often initially asymptomatic
**If missed can lead to neck space infection, mediastinitis
**If missed can lead to neck space infection, [[mediastinitis]]
*Esophagoscopy or contrast esophagography indicated if:
*Esophagoscopy or contrast esophagography indicated if:
**CT is equivocal or abnormal
**CT is equivocal or abnormal
**Missile trajectory places esophagus at risk for injury
**Missile trajectory places esophagus at risk for injury
**Persistent symptoms
**Persistent symptoms
====Laryngotracheal====
====[[tracheal injury|Laryngotracheal]]====
*Suspect if:
*Suspect if:
**Air bubbling through wound
**Air bubbling through wound
**Dyspnea, stridor
**[[Dyspnea]], [[stridor]]
**Hemoptysis
**[[Hemoptysis]]
**Subcutaneous emphysema
**Subcutaneous emphysema
*[[Laryngoscopy]] is indicated if:
*[[Laryngoscopy]] is indicated if:

Revision as of 22:24, 30 September 2019

Background

Zones of Neck
  • Defined by platysma violation
    • Assume significant injury has occurred until proven otherwise
    • Never probe neck wounds beneath the platysma (may disrupt hemostasis)
  • Multiple structures are injured in 50%
    • Stab wound can enter in one zone and damage another
  • Missed esophageal injury is leading cause of delayed death
  • GSW that crosses midline of 2x as likely to cause injuries to vital structures
  • Blunt cervical vascular injury should be treated with systemic anticoagulation
  • Penetrating injury rarely results in unstable fracture

Clinical Features

Hard vs. Soft Neck Signs
Hard Signs Soft Signs
Airway compromise Subcutaneous emphysema
Air bubbling wound Dysphagia, dyspnea
Expanding or pulsatile hematoma Non-pulsatile, non-expanding hematoma
Active Bleeding Venous oozing
Shock, compromised radial pulse Chest tube air leak
Hematemesis Minor hematemesis
Neuro Deficit/Paralysis/Cerebral ischemia Paresthesias

Differential Diagnosis

Injuries Patterns by Zone
Zone Anatomic Landmarks Potential Injuries
1 clavicle to cricoid
  • subclavian artery and vein
  • jugular vein
  • common carotid artery
  • trachea
  • thryroid
  • esophagus
  • apex of the lung
2 cricoid to angle of mandible
  • carotid arteries
  • internal jugular vein
  • esophagus
  • larynx
  • cranial nerves X, XI, and XII
  • spine
3 angle of mandible to base of skull
  • lateral pharynx
  • cranial nerves VII, IX, X, XI, and XII
  • spine
  • carotids

Evaluation

Algorithm for CTA Neck after penetrating trauma][1]

Evaluation (WTA Algorithm)

  • If hard signs or HD instability, attempt tamponade, secure airway, then OR.
  • If no hard signs and yet suspect injury, CTA.

Imaging Options

  • CXR
    • Pneumo/hemothorax, pneumomediastinum
  • CTA
    • 1st line
  • Angiography
    • Gold-standard
    • Useful if embolization or stent placement are anticipated or CT inconclusive

Management

General

  • Airway
    • If integrity of larynx is in question trach may be safer than intubation
    • One attempt at intubation by most experienced provider with tube one size smaller[2]
    • Consider intubation if:
  • Breathing
    • Minimize BVM (positive pressure > air into soft tissue plains)
  • Circulation
    • Place IV on contralateral side of injury
  • Disability
    • Neuro deficits may be secondary to direct cord injury or cerebral ischemia secondary to carotid injury
    • Place in C-collar if:

By Zone

Zone I

  • Portable CXR
  • Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
  • Vascular control can be difficult; requires thoracic surgical approach

Zone II

  • Optimal management is controversial
    • Platysma
      • Not penetrated: obs and discharge
      • Penetrated and vitals/airway stable: CT angio of neck
      • Penetrated and unstable, expanding hematoma: OR
  • All bleeding should be controlled with pressure, not with clamps

Zone III

  • Treat as cranial injuries
  • Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
    • Routine exploration of zone III is not indicated

By Structure

Esophagus

  • Injuries are often initially asymptomatic
  • Esophagoscopy or contrast esophagography indicated if:
    • CT is equivocal or abnormal
    • Missile trajectory places esophagus at risk for injury
    • Persistent symptoms

Laryngotracheal

Disposition

  • If CT is negative, may observe patient

Disposition

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Sperry JL, Moore EE, Coimbra R, et al. Western Trauma Association critical decisions in trauma: penetrating neck trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;75(6):936–940. [1]
  2. ↑ Newton K, Claudius I: Neck in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2013, (Ch) 44: pp 425-257.
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