Difference between revisions of "Penetrating neck trauma"

Revision as of 22:24, 30 September 2019

Background

Zones of Neck

Defined by platysma violation
- Assume significant injury has occurred until proven otherwise
- Never probe neck wounds beneath the platysma (may disrupt hemostasis)
Multiple structures are injured in 50%
- Stab wound can enter in one zone and damage another
Missed esophageal injury is leading cause of delayed death
GSW that crosses midline of 2x as likely to cause injuries to vital structures
Blunt cervical vascular injury should be treated with systemic anticoagulation
Penetrating injury rarely results in unstable fracture

Clinical Features

Hard vs. Soft Neck Signs
Hard Signs	Soft Signs
Airway compromise	Subcutaneous emphysema
Air bubbling wound	Dysphagia, dyspnea
Expanding or pulsatile hematoma	Non-pulsatile, non-expanding hematoma
Active Bleeding	Venous oozing
Shock, compromised radial pulse	Chest tube air leak
Hematemesis	Minor hematemesis
Neuro Deficit/Paralysis/Cerebral ischemia	Paresthesias

Differential Diagnosis

Injuries Patterns by Zone
Zone	Anatomic Landmarks	Potential Injuries
1	clavicle to cricoid	subclavian artery and vein jugular vein common carotid artery trachea thryroid esophagus apex of the lung
2	cricoid to angle of mandible	carotid arteries internal jugular vein esophagus larynx cranial nerves X, XI, and XII spine
3	angle of mandible to base of skull	lateral pharynx cranial nerves VII, IX, X, XI, and XII spine carotids

Evaluation

Algorithm for CTA Neck after penetrating trauma]^[1]

Evaluation (WTA Algorithm)

If hard signs or HD instability, attempt tamponade, secure airway, then OR.
If no hard signs and yet suspect injury, CTA.

Imaging Options

CXR
- Pneumo/hemothorax, pneumomediastinum
CTA
- 1st line
Angiography
- Gold-standard
- Useful if embolization or stent placement are anticipated or CT inconclusive

Management

General

Airway
- If integrity of larynx is in question trach may be safer than intubation
- One attempt at intubation by most experienced provider with tube one size smaller^[2]
  - If failure, surgical airway should be performed
  - Emergency tracheostomy preferred to cricothyrotomy
- Consider intubation if:
  - Stridor
  - Hemoptysis
  - Subcutaneous emphysema
  - Expanding hematoma
Breathing
- Minimize BVM (positive pressure > air into soft tissue plains)
Circulation
- Place IV on contralateral side of injury
Disability
- Neuro deficits may be secondary to direct cord injury or cerebral ischemia secondary to carotid injury
- Place in C-collar if:
  - ALOC, neuro deficits, or significant blunt injury

By Zone

Zone I

Portable CXR
Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
Vascular control can be difficult; requires thoracic surgical approach

Zone II

Optimal management is controversial
- Platysma
  - Not penetrated: obs and discharge
  - Penetrated and vitals/airway stable: CT angio of neck
  - Penetrated and unstable, expanding hematoma: OR
All bleeding should be controlled with pressure, not with clamps

Zone III

Treat as cranial injuries
Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
- Routine exploration of zone III is not indicated

By Structure

Esophagus

Injuries are often initially asymptomatic
- If missed can lead to neck space infection, mediastinitis
Esophagoscopy or contrast esophagography indicated if:
- CT is equivocal or abnormal
- Missile trajectory places esophagus at risk for injury
- Persistent symptoms

Laryngotracheal

Suspect if:
- Air bubbling through wound
- Dyspnea, stridor
- Hemoptysis
- Subcutaneous emphysema
Laryngoscopy is indicated if:
- Suspect laryngotracheal injury even if CT is negative

Disposition

If CT is negative, may observe patient

Disposition

References

↑ Sperry JL, Moore EE, Coimbra R, et al. Western Trauma Association critical decisions in trauma: penetrating neck trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;75(6):936–940. [1]
↑ Newton K, Claudius I: Neck in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2013, (Ch) 44: pp 425-257.

Authors:

[1] Sperry JL, Moore EE, Coimbra R, et al. Western Trauma Association critical decisions in trauma: penetrating neck trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;75(6):936–940. [1]

[2] Newton K, Claudius I: Neck in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2013, (Ch) 44: pp 425-257.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Background==
+[[File:Neck zones.png|thumb|Zones of Neck]]
+*Defined by platysma violation
+**Assume significant injury has occurred until proven otherwise
+**Never probe neck wounds beneath the platysma (may disrupt hemostasis)
+*Multiple structures are injured in 50%
+**Stab wound can enter in one zone and damage another
+*Missed esophageal injury is leading cause of delayed death
+*GSW that crosses midline of 2x as likely to cause injuries to vital structures
+*Blunt cervical vascular injury should be treated with systemic anticoagulation
+*Penetrating injury rarely results in unstable fracture
-*Accounts for 5-10% of traumatic injuries in adults
+==Clinical Features==
-*Multiple structures are injured in 30% (especially if breach in platysma)
+{| class="wikitable"
+|+ Hard vs. Soft Neck Signs
+|-
+! scope="col" | '''Hard Signs'''
+! scope="col" | '''Soft Signs'''
-==Zones==
+|-
+| Airway compromise ||Subcutaneous emphysema
+|-
+| Air bubbling wound||[[Dysphagia]], [[dyspnea]]
+|-
+| Expanding or pulsatile hematoma||Non-pulsatile, non-expanding hematoma
+|-
+| Active Bleeding||Venous oozing
+|-
+| [[Shock]], compromised radial pulse ||Chest tube air leak
+|-
+| [[Hematemesis]] ||Minor hematemesis
+|-
+| [[focal neuro deficits|Neuro Deficit]]/[[weakness|Paralysis]]/[[CVA|Cerebral ischemia]] ||[[Paresthesias]]
+|}
-*Zone 1: Between clavicles and inf aspect of cricoid cartilage
+==Differential Diagnosis==
-*Zone 2: From cricoid cartilage superiorly to the angle of the mandible
+{| class="wikitable sortable"
-*Zone 3: Angle of mandible to base of skull
+|+Injuries Patterns by Zone
+!Zone!!class="unsortable"|Anatomic Landmarks!!class="unsortable"|Potential Injuries
-*Anatomical Structures at Risk:
+|-
-*carotid (common, internal external)
+| 1||clavicle to cricoid||
-*vertebral arteries
+*subclavian artery and vein
-*subclavian vessels
 *jugular vein
-*brachiocephalic vein
+*common carotid artery
-*aortic arch
+*trachea
-*lung apices
+*thryroid
-*cervical spine/cord
+*esophagus
-*thoracic duct
+*apex of the lung
-*brachial plexus
+|-
-*phrenic nerve
+| 2||cricoid to angle of mandible||
-*vagus nerve
+*carotid arteries
-*recurrent laryngeal nerve
+*internal jugular vein
 *esophagus
-*trachea
 *larynx
-*partoid/salivary glands
+*cranial nerves X, XI, and XII
-*cranial nerves 9-12
+*spine
-*floor of mouth/skull
+|-
+| 3||angle of mandible to base of skull||
+*lateral pharynx
+*cranial nerves VII, IX, X, XI, and XII
+*spine
+*carotids
+|}
+==Evaluation==
+[[File:Cta-neck-trauma-algorithm.png|thumb|Algorithm for CTA Neck after penetrating trauma]<ref>Sperry JL, Moore EE, Coimbra R, et al. Western Trauma Association critical decisions in trauma: penetrating neck trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;75(6):936–940. [http://westerntrauma.org/documents/PublishedAlgorithms/WTACriticalDecisionsPenetratingNeckTrauma.pdf|fulltext] </ref>]]
+===Evaluation (WTA Algorithm)===
+*If hard signs or HD instability, attempt tamponade, secure airway, then OR.
+*If no hard signs and yet suspect injury, CTA.
+===Imaging Options===
+*[[CXR]]
+**Pneumo/hemothorax, pneumomediastinum
+*CTA
+**1st line
+*Angiography
+**Gold-standard
+**Useful if embolization or stent placement are anticipated or CT inconclusive
 ==Management==
+===General===
 *Airway
-**Consider early airway stabilization esp in those with respiratory distress, subq emphysema, expanding hematoma, AMS, or in those with direct laryngotracheal trauma
+**If integrity of larynx is in question trach may be safer than intubation
+**One attempt at intubation by most experienced provider with tube one size smaller<ref>Newton K, Claudius I: Neck in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2013, (Ch) 44: pp 425-257.</ref>
-- RSI  has been proven safe and effective
+***If failure, surgical airway should be performed
+***Emergency [[tracheostomy]] preferred to [[cricothyrotomy]]
-- minimize BVM as positive pressure generated can cause air to dissect into the neck and worsen injuries
+**Consider intubation if:
+***[[Stridor]]
-- Orotracheal intubation usually successful but always have backup plan (fiberoptic, nasal intubation, surgical airway)
+***[[Hemoptysis]]
+***Subcutaneous emphysema
+***Expanding hematoma
+*Breathing
-Surgical Management
+**Minimize BVM (positive pressure > air into soft tissue plains)
+*Circulation
-Immediate Exploration if:
+**Place IV on contralateral side of injury
+*Disability
-- hard signs of vascular injury (expanding hematoma, severe active/pulsatile bleeding, bruit, palpable thrill)
+**Neuro deficits may be secondary to direct cord injury or cerebral ischemia secondary to carotid injury
+**Place in C-collar if:
-- HD unstable
+***ALOC, [[focal neuro deficits|neuro deficits]], or significant blunt injury
-- airway compromise
-Can delay surgical management for further evaluation/imaging if not
-Imaging/Other studies
-Plain Films
-- not helpful in visualizing soft tissues/vacular structures
-- can show foreign bodies, fractures, tracheal displacement, hemo/penumothorax, widened mediastinum, apical hematoma, etc
-Angiography
-- gold standard for evaluating vasculature
-- more important for Zone 1 and 3 injuries, especially for surgical planning
-CT Angio
-- shows soft tissue, bone, and vascular injury
-- similar results as traditional angiography
+===By Zone===
+====Zone I====
+*Portable [[CXR]]
+*Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
+*Vascular control can be difficult; requires thoracic surgical approach
+====Zone II====
+*Optimal management is controversial
+**Platysma
+***Not penetrated: obs and discharge
+***Penetrated and vitals/airway stable: CT angio of neck
+***Penetrated and unstable, expanding hematoma: OR
+*All bleeding should be controlled with pressure, not with clamps
-- if normal, may consider eliminating surgical exploration in zone 2 PNI in a HD stable patient
+====Zone III====
+*Treat as cranial injuries
+*Evaluation is generally by selective, nonoperative management
+**Routine exploration of zone III is not indicated
+===By Structure===
+====[[esophageal injury|Esophagus]]====
+*Injuries are often initially asymptomatic
+**If missed can lead to neck space infection, [[mediastinitis]]
+*Esophagoscopy or contrast esophagography indicated if:
+**CT is equivocal or abnormal
+**Missile trajectory places esophagus at risk for injury
+**Persistent symptoms
+====[[tracheal injury|Laryngotracheal]]====
+*Suspect if:
+**Air bubbling through wound
+**[[Dyspnea]], [[stridor]]
+**[[Hemoptysis]]
+**Subcutaneous emphysema
+*[[Laryngoscopy]] is indicated if:
+**Suspect laryngotracheal injury even if CT is negative
+===Disposition===
+*If CT is negative, may observe patient
-Bronchoscopy
+==Disposition==
-Esophagraphy/Esophagoscopy
+==See Also==
+*[[Spinal cord trauma]]
+*[[Blunt neck trauma]]
+*[[Head trauma (main)]]
+==References==
+<references/>
-[[Category:Trauma]]
+[[Category:ENT]] [[Category:Trauma]]

Difference between revisions of "Penetrating neck trauma"

Revision as of 22:24, 30 September 2019

Contents

Background

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation

Evaluation (WTA Algorithm)

Imaging Options

Management

General

By Zone

Zone I

Zone II

Zone III

By Structure

Esophagus

Laryngotracheal

Disposition

Disposition

See Also

References