Penetrating Neck Trauma: An Unusual Case Presentation and Review of the Literature.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this report is to describe a case of a retained projectile metal object to the neck that occurred after airbag deployment during a motor vehicle accident.


METHODS
Case report with literature review.


RESULTS
After a motor vehicle accident on the interstate, a 19-year-old man presents to the emergency department for several open extremity fractures, a neck laceration, and a C1 lateral mass fracture. The trauma surgery team repaired the neck laceration with no further evidence of injury. Several weeks later on follow-up, the patient presents with dysphagia and pain when turning his head to the right. A repeat computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan revealed a metallic foreign body in the left posterior pharyngeal, prevertebral soft tissues, which was subsequently removed during exploratory surgery 2 months after his initial accident.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a projectile metal object to the neck that may be related to airbag deployment. The car involved in this accident was under recall for airbags that were associated with projectile objects, which warrants further investigation into the possible risks of such airbags.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA hcrees@email.arizona.edu.
Hilary C
HC
McCrary
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Tyson J
TJ
Nielsen
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Stephen A
SA
Goldstein
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D017278:Air Bags; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
accidents; airbags; foreign bodies; neck injuries