title: Penetrating neck wounds: selective exploration.
abstract: This study of 223 patients with penetrating neck wounds justifies individualizing surgical treatment. Twenty-four percent was selected for neck surgery. In spite of selective rather than mandatory neck exploration, the mortality rate related to the neck wound in this series was three percent. This compared favorably with the experience of others employing mandatory exploration. There were no deaths in our series attributable to selective observation.
mesh_terms: D001259:Ataxia / Q000150:complications; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006468:Hemopneumothorax / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D019838:Neck Injuries; D010614:Pharynx / Q000293:injuries; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D061223:Vagus Nerve Injuries; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology