Assessment of bullet injuries in the neck (a salutory lesson)

Bullet injuries in the neck are fortunately rare in England and Wales, although their incidence is increasing. Clinical assessment of the extent of the injury and the decision whether or not to explore the neck in the absence of obvious major visceral or vascular damage can be difficult. We report a case where a potentially fatal injury was not suggested by the patient's clinical condition and we recommend prompt exploration of bullet wounds in the neck whenever there is a possibility of vascular damage.