Penetrating neck injury: case report and evaluation of management

Greater urban violence has resulted in an increased incidence of penetratin g neck trauma. Penetrating neck wounds can present difficult diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. The evaluation and management of such injuries, howe ver, remains controversial. There is no universally accepted specific appro ach to the management of patients with penetrating neck injuries, with some surgeons advocating mandatory neck exploration whilst others believe in se lective surgical intervention. We believe that an equal willingness for both conservative and surgical int ervention as dictated by serial bedside evaluation with adequate radiologic al and endoscopic support can provide the clinician a safe: and effective m eans of managing a potentially complex and lethal problem.