title: Evaluation and management of neck trauma.
abstract: Blunt and penetrating trauma to the neck can result in life-threatening injuries that demand immediate attention and intervention on the part of the emergency physician and trauma surgeon. This article provides a literature-based update of the evaluation and management of injuries to aerodigestive and vascular organs of the neck. A brief review of cervical spine injuries related to penetrating neck trauma is also included. Airway injuries challenge even the most skilled practitioners; familiarity with multiple approaches to securing a definitive airway is required because success is not guaranteed with any single technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, One Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118, USA. nrathlev@bu.edu
authors.forename: Niels K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rathlev
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medzon
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bracken
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000465:Algorithms; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy