Citation

Bumpous JM, Whitt PD, Ganzel TM, McClane SD. Am. J. Otolaryngol. 2000; 21(3): 190-194.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10834554

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.

Language: en