Cervical trauma

Abstract

1. Providers should maintain high clinical suspicion in the setting of any trauma to the neck in children due to the potential for significant injury to underlying vasculature, nerve structures, aerodigestive tract, or spine with limited symptoms. 2. Management of penetrating cervical trauma is often dictated by which zone of the neck is injured (Zone I, II, or III), with injuries to Zone I and III warranting computed tomography (CT) angiography prior to surgical exploration. 3. Suspected injuries to the aerodigestive tract are best evaluated by combined diagnostic techniques including CT, fluoroscopy, esophagoscopy, and bronchoscopy. 4. Choice of imaging of the cervical spine is complex with plain radiographs, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) each conferring unique benefits and pitfalls. MRI remains the gold standard for cervical spine imaging.