title: Role of Physical Examination in Decision Making for Selective Exploration in Patients with Penetrating Zone II Neck Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of physical examination in decision making for exploring patients with penetrating zone II neck injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study being performed in a level I trauma center between 2006 and 2010. The present study reviewed the records of 150 patients with penetrating neck injuries. Of 46 cases with zone II deep platysma neck injuries, 3 patients died before taking any significant medical measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty of 43 patients (70%) presented with hard sings while 13 (30%) did not show these sings. All patients underwent neck exploration. Two patients (4.6%) without hard sings exhibited positive findings, whereas 29 cases (67%) with hard sings reported positive on exploration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Briefly, we hold the view that it seems reasonable to follow an algorithmic approach by using physical examination of the patients with zone II penetrating neck injuries. This prevents unnecessary exploration for management of such patients.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Vahid
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabet
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Health Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaianzadeh
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghahramani
authors.affiliation: Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hossein
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Safarpour
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Salar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahimikazerooni
keywords: Exploration; Penetrating neck injury; Physical examination; Platysma