ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Penetrating neck injuries represent 5-10% of all traumatic injuries, these bring with them a high rate of morbidity and mortality due to vital structures that could be injured in this area. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of penetrating neck injuries. METHODS: This was a retrospective, unicentric and descriptive study that included all patients who underwent neck exploration surgery. RESULTS: A total of 70 neck exploration cases were reviewed, 34 (49%) didn't had any injury. Thirty (43%) had at least one hard sign, 42 (60%) patients showed at least one soft sign. Statistical analysis showed only surgical time (252±199.5 vs. 155±76.4; p=0.020) and transfusions (1.87±3 vs. 0.4±0.856; p=0.013) were statistically significant. We report a mortality of 2 (3%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our prevalence of neck surgical exploration without vascular injury was slightly higher (49% vs. 40%) than literature. We highlight the importance of not performing neck explorations in all patients who present a penetrating injury. We did not obtain differences between groups for hard signs and soft signs. We were not able to identify whether or not there would be an injury based on clinical characteristics. Imaging studies should be performed to avoid unnecessary neck explorations; however, depending on the clinical scenario some surgery cannot be avoided.
Subject(s)
Neck Injuries , Wounds, Penetrating , Humans , Neck , Neck Injuries/diagnosis , Neck Injuries/epidemiology , Neck Injuries/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Trauma Centers , Wounds, Penetrating/diagnosis , Wounds, Penetrating/epidemiology , Wounds, Penetrating/surgeryABSTRACT
There are few reported cases of small bowel injury due to blunt abdominal trauma. We describe the clinical presentation and surgical management of these lesions. This is the clinical case of a polytraumatized male with a duodenal injury IIID3 according to AAST, who underwent resection of the intestinal segment with duodeno-duodenum anastomosis with favorable results. The infrequent presentation of injuries to the small intestine due to blunt trauma may lead the clinician to overlook the need for intentional interrogation about the kinematics of the trauma, while at the same time neglecting the taking of complementary diagnostic imaging studies, this because of a lack of clinical suspicion. It is important to analyze the patient's context, which will allow us to assess the need to delve into diagnostic studies in order to optimize their treatment.
Existen pocos casos notificados de lesión de intestino delgado por traumatismo contuso abdominal. Se describen la presentación clínica y el tratamiento quirúrgico de dichas lesiones, un caso clínico de un paciente masculino politraumatizado con lesión duodenal IIID3 según la AAST, objeto de resección de segmento intestinal con anastomosis duodenoduodenal terminoterminal con resultados favorables. La presentación infrecuente de lesiones de intestino delgado por traumatismo contuso puede llevar al clínico a soslayar la necesidad de un interrogatorio intencionado acerca de la cinemática del traumatismo y también de los estudios de imagen complementarios diagnósticos debido a la falta de sospecha clínica. Es importante analizar el contexto del paciente para valorar la necesidad de profundizar en estudios diagnósticos y optimizar el tratamiento.
