Neck Trauma, Blunt, Anterior
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- Blunt anterior neck trauma may result in various injuries to structures in the neck:
- Carotid artery injury (internal, external, common carotid)
- Vertebral artery injury
- Intramural hematoma, intimal tear, thrombosis, and pseudoaneurysm
- Hemorrhage or neck hematoma
- Laryngeal injuries: Fracture of hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, cricotracheal separation
- Vocal cord disruption
- Dislocation of arytenoid cartilage
- Tracheal injuries: Hematoma or transection
- Pharynx: Hematoma, perforation
- Esophagus: Hematoma, perforation
- Nervous system:
- Thoracic sympathetic chain wraps around carotid artery: Disruption can result in Horner's syndrome
- Vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve
- Cervical nerve roots and spinal cord
- Cervical spine:
- Fracture of vertebral body, transverse process, spinous process, etc.
- Motor vehicle accidents (most common cause):
- Unrestrained occupants involved in frontal collisions may strike neck on dashboard or steering wheel: “Padded dash syndrome”
- Shoulder harness (seatbelt) can also cause shearing injury to anterior neck.
- Assault: Blows to anterior neck from fists, kicks, or objects
- “Clothesline injury”:
- Motorcycle, snowmobile, jet ski, or all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
- Drivers strike neck on cord or wire suspended between 2 objects.
- Head is proportionally larger in children, increasing risk of acceleration–deceleration injury to neck
- Intraoral blow to soft palate may cause carotid thrombosis (popsicle in mouth of child who falls, pushing the object into soft palate).