How Can We Manage Penetrating Neck Injury with Blunt Carotid Injury and Spinal Injury: Case Report and Review of...

The Neck is a cylindrical structure containing vital neurovascular and visceral structures tightly packed in a relatively small volume. Mortality rate increases when there is an injury to vascular structures especially the carotid artery, surrounded by other vital neurovascular structures; injuring the neck leads to devastating morbidity when compared to other injuries. With increased awareness of screening techniques and improved detection rates, there is an urge in opting for selective neck exploration and initial aggressive antithrombotic therapy for blunt carotid artery injuries. Here we report a case of a 20-year-old male, with a lacerated injury of the right side of the neck causing transection of the right internal jugular vein, grade 4 (Denver classification) blunt carotid injury, along with cervical vertebral fractures without neurological deficits. The patient underwent emergency surgical neck wound exploration, flush ligation of transacted Right Internal Jugular Vein, and conservative management for blunt carotid artery injury using anti platelets (Aspirin and Clopidogrel) avoiding any immediate neurological deficits. Whenever lacerated neck wounds are evaluated, the chance of blunt injury to the carotid is to be borne in mind and such an injury can be managed with double antiplatelet therapy, if there are no demonstrable neurological deficits.