Penetrating neck injuries: patterns of injury and diagnostic algorithm

Penetrating neck injuries are potentially life-threatening injuries. Manage ment is controversial despite decades of discussion in the literature. An a lgorithm for diagnosis and therapy is needed because of the potential risk of mortality. In the Department of Trauma Surgery of Vienna Medical School, mandatory surgical exploration after noninvasive investigations is practic ed. Thirty-one patients with this kind of injury were treated between Augus t 1992 and September 1999. Injuries were caused in seven cases by gunshots, in eight cases by broken glass, in one case by an iron rod, in one case by a spear, in one case by a branch and in 13 cases the penetrating injuries were stab wounds caused by knives. Complications like pseudoaneurysms and f istulas were not seen. No patient came to death.