Penetrating neck injury. A case report

<ns3:p>Introduction: Penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) are rare yet potentially life-threatening events accounting for 5–10% of all trauma cases. Due to the complex anatomy of the neck area, even small wounds can result in damage to key structures such as large blood vessels, airways, or nerves. Proper management requires prompt assessment in accordance with Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) principles, stabilization of vital functions, and immediate surgical intervention. Case report: A 24-year-old woman with a history of depressive disorders, at two months postpartum, was found with a knife penetrating the anterolateral part of her neck. At the time of the emergency team’s arrival, the patient was conscious, circulatorily and respiratorily stable. Following the securing of airways and intubation, she was transported by helicopter to a reference center. A CT scan showed the knife blade penetrating through the soft tissues of the neck on the left side, its tip within the C6 vertebral body, with no signs of damage to large vessels. Urgent surgical exploration was performed to reveal no damage to the carotid vessels, larynx, or esophagus. The knife was removed from the vertebral body, and the minor osseous bleeding was managed by a neurosurgeon. In the post-operative period, the patient experienced transient limb paresis, which completely resolved after rehabilitation. Conclusions: Penetrating neck injuries require immediate diagnosis and interdisciplinary management. It is crucial that the patient be transported to the medical facility with the impaled instrument in place, with no attempts having been made at removing it, and that prompt imaging and surgical evaluation be pursued upon presentation. Surgical management should include thorough exploration and hemostasis control by specialist teams. The presented case illustrates the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that need to be pursued in case of a PNI.</ns3:p>