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Blunt neck trauma at a level I trauma centre: six-year retrospective case note review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2019

B A Zakaria ,
J Muzaffar ,
L E Orr ,
C J Coulson  and
N Sharma
B A Zakaria
Affiliation:
College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
J Muzaffar
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK
L E Orr
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK
C J Coulson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK
N Sharma*
Affiliation:
Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr N Sharma, Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education, 2nd Floor, Robert Aitkin Building, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK E-mail: n.sharma@bham.ac.uk Fax: +44 121 414 8046
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Abstract

Background

Blunt neck trauma can cause serious morbidity and mortality rates of up to 40 per cent, but there is a paucity of literature on the topic.

Method

A retrospective case note review was performed for all blunt neck trauma cases managed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2017.

Results

Seventeen cases were managed, with no mortality and limited morbidity. Most patients were male (70.6 per cent) and road traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury (41.2 per cent). The median age of patients was 40.6 years (range, 21.5–70.3 years). Multidetector computed tomography angiography of the neck was performed in 9 patients (52.9 per cent) with ‘hot’ reports made by on-duty radiology staff matching consultant reports in all but 1 case. Six patients underwent operative exploration yielding a negative exploration rate of 33.3 per cent. Imaging reports matched operative findings in 3 cases (60 per cent).

Conclusion

Blunt neck trauma is uncommon but usually presents in polytrauma. Imaging has inaccuracies when compared with operative findings, regardless of radiological experience.

Keywords

Neck Injuries
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 11 , November 2019 , pp. 943 - 947
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

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Footnotes

Dr N Sharma takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented at the British Academic Conference in Otolaryngology, 4–6th July 2018, Manchester, UK.

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