THE USE OF DUPLEX ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN PENETRATING NECK TRAUMA

Objective: To compare intraoperative findings and/or angiography with color-flow duplex scan. Design: This prospective double-blind study wa s performed on all stable patients with zone 1, 2, or 3 penetrating ne ck trauma. Results of angiographic or intraoperative findings were com pared with the results of duplex ultrasonographic scans. Main Outcome Measures: Fifty-five patients were studied over a 2-year period in whi ch the distribution of injuries included 23 stab wounds (42%), 30 guns hot wounds (54%), and Z motor vehicular lacerations (4%). There were 4 2 patients (76%) with normal ultrasonographic results and 13 patients (24%) with abnormal ultrasonographic results. The true-negative rate w as 100%; however, there were 2 false positives resulting in 100% sensi tivity and 85% specificity. Conclusions: Duplex ultrasonography provid es an excellent diagnostic modality with cost-saving, patient-friendly characteristics and a low rate of morbidity. It should be instituted as the primary diagnostic procedure of choice for penetrating neck tra uma.