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Neck

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The examination of the neck in the secondary trauma survey should cover the:

  • cervical spine:
    • always assume a cervical fracture until clinical and imaging evidence to the contrary
    • inspect and palpate with in-line immobilisation in a neutral position
    • consider plane films and further imaging, eg CT scanning, on the guidance of a radiologist
  • trachea; confirm that central; deviation may indicate mediastinal shift secondary to (haemo-)pneumothorax
  • neck veins; engorged veins may indicate cardiac tamponade
  • skin; penetrating injuries deep to platysma require operative investigation or imaging with angiography

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