title: Penetrating injuries of the visceral compartment of the neck.
abstract: Penetrating injuries of the visceral compartment of the neck are uncommon but potentially life threatening. A retrospective review of patients who sustained penetrating trauma to the laryngotracheal complex was conducted at the Level I trauma center of the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky. Sixteen patients were identified and their records reviewed for type of injuries, treatment, complications, and 1-year follow-up. The majority of patients were men who sustained injuries that were violent in nature. Zone II of the anterior neck was the most commonly injured area, with the trachea (69%), esophagus (38%), and larynx (31 %) the most commonly injured structures. Although 31% underwent angiograms, only 13% showed vascular injuries. Eighty-one percent of the patients had injuries involving more than 1 major structure of the neck. Neck exploration was performed in 81% of the patients and tracheotomies in 75% as well as repair of the trachea (50%), larynx (31%), and esophagus (38%). There is significant mortality associated with these injuries (13% in our study), and many of the patients have long-term sequelae such as dysphagia, hoarseness, and prolonged tracheotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bumpous
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Whitt
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ganzel
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: McClane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000293:injuries*; D061224:Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery