Analysis of Patterns of Neck Trauma and its Outcomes at Level I Trauma Centre: An Ambispective Observational Study

Traumatic neck injuries (TNIs) constitute 5-10% of all trauma cases. Though the neck injuries are not frequent but the morbidity and mortality rates associated with these injuries are high. It was a single centre, ambispective observational study. One hundred fifty-six Patients with TNI of either sex > 14 years of age and giving an informed consent by self or their legally authorized representative getting admitted under trauma surgery were included in study. On comparing retrospective Vs prospective cohort penetrating injury was more common than blunt injury but there is increase in the rate of blunt injury i.e., from 3.2 to 17.7%. In retrospective cohort most common mechanism was assault (46.6%) followed by road traffic injury (26%). While in the prospective cohort the most common mechanism was road traffic injury (22.6%) followed by assault (22%). PNI (Penetrating neck injury) was the most common injury pattern predominantly following assault or self-inflicted harm. But in the recent times there was a change in the trend toward blunt neck injury pattern.