Neck Trauma

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The hardest question… Should you get a CTA?

Blunt Trauma of Neck

• Obtain CTA if…
  • Patient has neurologic deficit
    • Numbness
    • Weakness
    • Visual changes
  • Patient sustained forceful impact to the neck
  • Patient has fracture
    • Basilar skull
    • Facial bones
    • Cervical spine

Penetrating Trauma of the Neck

• Go to OR if patient is unstable
• Go to OR if patient has HARD signs
  • HARD Bruit Mnemonic
    • Hemoptysis/Hematemesis/Hypotension
    • Arterial bleeding
    • Rapidly expanding hematoma
    • Deficit (neurologic/pulse)
    • Bruit
• Otherwise obtain CTA of the neck

Additional Reading

• Neck Trauma: A Practice Update (emDOCs)