Penetrating Injury to the Neck Which was Caused by a Heavy Knife: A Case Report
1051-1053
Correspondence
Dr. Jayanta Bain Village + Post Betai Dist Nadia West Bengal, India - 471163. Phone: 09575352304 E-mail: jbain212@gmail.com
A neck injury that extends deep into the platysma is called a penetrating injury of the neck. It is a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge to the treating surgeon, because a number of important structures are densely packed in a small area, and the injury to any of these structures may immediately cause a life threatening situation. We are describing an interesting case, where a 40- year old woman presented with a penetrating neck injury which was caused by a heavy knife, which ran transversely from the left to the right side of the neck at zone-I. On presentation, she was found to have stable vitals and no active bleeding from the wounds; but, right ulnar nerve monoplagiea was found on examination. Bilateral exploration of the neck was done. The knife passed between the trachea and the oesophagus from the left side to reach up to the right supraclavicular fossa and it rested over the brachial plexus. The weapon was retrieved under direct vision. Surprisingly, there were no injuries to any vital structures of the neck. The patient made an uneventful recovery.