Clinical Notes Flashcards
Zones of Penetrating Neck Trauma are divided by the Angle of the __ and ___ Cartilages
- Mandible
- Cricoid
Zones of Penetrating Neck Trauma: Zone I
- Includes the Root of the Neck (extends inferiorly from the cricoid cartilage)
- Structures at risk include the Cervical Pleurae, Apices of the Lungs, Thyroid Glands, Parathyroid Glands, Trachea, Esophagus, Common Carotid A, Jugular V, Cervical Vertebrae
Zones of Penetrating Neck Trauma: Zone II
- Extends from the cricoid cartilage to the angle of the mandible
- Structures at risk include Laryngeal cartilages, Larynx, Laryngopharynx, Carotid A, Jugular V, Esophagus, Cervical Vertebrae
Zones of Penetrating Neck Trauma: Zone III
- Extends from the angle of the Mandible superiorly
- Structures at risk include the salivary glands, oral and nasal cavities, and the Oro- and Naso-Pharynx
Injuries to what Zone of Penetrating Neck Trauma are the most common?
Zone II (also easy to access and repair)
Another name for Hangman’s Fracture
Traumatic Spondylolysis of C2
What is Hangman’s Fracture?
- Fracture through the Pars Interarticularis of C2
- Typically result of severe hyperextension
Jefferson (Burst) Fracture of C1
- Fracture of one or both of the Anterior and Posterior Arches
- Result of blow to the top of the head from a falling object or diving accident
- This type of fracture alone typically does not injure the spinal cord, but if the Transverse L is ruptured then the Odontoid Process may injure the spinal cord
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Results from compression of neuromuscular bundle (subclavian artery or inferior trunk brachial plexus) from superior thoracic aperture
Why are cervical vertebrae more likely to be dislocated?
Horizontal orientation of articular facets leave them less tightly interlocked
The cervical vertebrae can be dislocated in neck injuries with ___ force than is required to fracture them
Less
Due to the large ___ ___ in the cervical region, slight dislocation can occur here without damaging the spinal cord
Vertebral Canal
Dislocation of Cervical Vertebrae: Stage I
Flexion sprain
Dislocation of Cervical Vertebrae: Stage II
Anterior subluxation (hyperflexion sprain; localized, purely ligamentous disruption of the cervical spine caused by a limited flexion force) with 25% anterior translation
Dislocation of Cervical Vertebrae: Stage III
Anterior subluxation with 50% translation
Dislocation of Cervical Vertebrae: Stage IV
Complete dislocation
Severe Dislocations or Dislocations combined with Fractures of the Cervical Vertebrae
- Result in injury to the spinal cord
- if the dislocation does not result in “facet jumping” with locking of the displaced articular processes, the cervical vertebrae may self-reduce so that a radiograph may not indicate that the cord has been injured – would need MRI to see resulting tissue damage
Fracture of the Hyoid Bone
- Typically result of strangulation by compression of the throat
- Results in depression of the Hyoid onto the Thyroid Cartilage
- Experience difficulty swallowing and maintaining the separation of the alimentary and respiratory tracts
Congenital Torticollis
- Disorder produced by fibrous tissue tumor which forms in the Sternocleidomastoid which causes the head to turn and the face to look away from the affected side (contraction of cervical muscles that produces twisting of neck and slanting of head)
- Hematoma may arise and impinge on the Spinal Accessory N which denervates the Sternocleidomastoid
Spasmodic Torticollis
- Typically occurs in adults
- Involves abnormal tonicity of the cervical muscles, usually the Sternocleidomastoid and the Tracoezius muscles
chemoreceptors exist at the carotid __ and monitor the ___ content of blood before it reaches the brain.
- Body
- Oxygen
Adjustments to heart rate, respiratory rate, and BP can be made accordingly based on the oxygen content in the Carotid Sinus via the ____ nerve.
Glossopharyngeal N
The __ sinus is also hypersensitive to pressure (baroreceptors); therefore excessive pressure to the __ sinus can produce ___ heart rate, drop in BP and fainting.
- Carotid
- Carotid
- Slow
Carotid Sinus Hypersensitivity Syndrome
- Carotid Sinus may be hypersensitive to pressure, therefore excessive pressure to the Carotid Sinus can produce a slow HR, drop in BP, and fainting
- Best to take Radial pulse rather than Carotid pulse in these patients
Central Line Placement
Small tube can be placed in the Internal Jugular Vein OR the Subclavian Vein (most commonly this one) to administer treatment for longer periods of time, in larger quantities, or in order to draw blood easier
Characteristics of Spasmodic Torticollis
- Sustained
- Turning/tilting/flexing/extending neck
- Shoulder usually elevated and displaced anteriorly on side to which chin turns
- Shifting of head laterally or anteriorly can occur involuntarily
Muscular Torticollis
- SCM injured during birth and fibers are torn (infant’s head is pulled too much during a difficult birth)
- Hematoma forms and develops into fibrous mass that entraps CN XI (accessory spinal N)
Surgical Management of Muscular Torticollis
Surgical release of SCM inferior to the level of CN XI may be necessary to allow person to hold and rotate their head normally
What is another name used to describe Spasmodic Torticollis?
Cervical Dystonia
Subclavian Vein Puncture: Infraclavicular Subclavian Vein Approach
- Administrator places thumb of one hand on middle park clavicle
- Index finger on jugular notch in manubrium
- Needle punctures below thumb and advances medially toward tip of index finger until enters right venous angle posterior to SC joint
- Soft, flexible catheter inserted with needle as guide
Where do the Internal Jugular and Subclavian Veins merge to form the Brachiocephalic Vein?
The Right Venous Angle (posterior to the SC joint)
What might happen if the needle is not inserted carefully into the Subclavian Vein during cannulation?
The needle could puncture the pleura and lung, causing pneumothorax
If the needle is inserted too far posterior during Subclavian Vein Cannulation, it may be insertion into the ___ __ instead of the Subclavian Vein
Subclavian Artery
What is the purpose of Right Heart Catheterization (RHC)?
To measure the pressure in the Right Chambers of the Heart
What vein is punctured during RHC?
Internal Jugular Vein
Needle Route during RHC
Puncture Internal Jugular Vein -> Right BRachiocephalic Vein -> Superior Vena Cava -> Right side of heart
In some patients, it may be necessary to use the ___ ___ vein instead of the preferred Internal Jugular Vein or Subclavian Vein during RHC
External Jugular
Why is the External Jugular Vein not ideal for RHC?
Its angle of junction with the subclavian vein makes passage of the catheter difficult
Role of External Jugular Vein as an Internal Barometer
- When venous pressure is in the normal range, the EJV is usually visible above the clavicle for only a short distance
- When venous pressure rises (e.g., as in heart failure), the vein is prominent throughout its course along the side of the neck; observation of the EJVs during physical examinations may give diagnostic signs of heart failure, SVC obstruction, enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes, or increased intrathoracic pressure
Mechanism of Venous Air Embolism
EJV is severed along the posterior border of the SCM -> disruption of lumen -> negative intrathoracic pressure air sucks air into the vein -> churning noise in the thorax -> cyanosis (a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes resulting from an excessive concentration of reduced hemoglobin in the blood) A venous air embolism produced in this way will fill the right side of the heart with froth, which nearly stops blood flow through it, resulting in dyspnea (shortness of breath). The application of firm pressure to the severed jugular vein until it can be sutured will stop the bleeding and entry of air into the blood.
What typically holds open the lumen of the External Jugular Vein?
The tough investing layer of deep cervical fascia
Consequences of Venous Air Embolism and How to Manage It
-Right side of heart is filled with froth, which nearly stops blood flow through it, resulting in dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Management: application of firm pressure to the severed jugular vein until it can be sutured; this will stop the bleeding and entry of air into the blood
Ways the Spinal Accessory Nerve (IX) could be damaged:
- Penetrating trauma
- Surgical procedures in lateral cervical region
- Tumors at cranial base or cancerous cervical lymph nodes
- Fracture jugular foramen
Symptoms of Individuals with Damage/Lesion to their CN XI
- Weakness in turning head to opposite side against resistance
- Weakness and atrophy of the Trapezius, thus impairing neck movements
What is the most obvious sign of injury to CN XI?
Drooping of shoulder
Signs of Unilateral Paralysis of the Trapezius
- Unable to elevate and retract the shoulder
- Difficulty elevating the upper limb superior to the horizontal level
- normal prominence in the neck produced by the trapezius is reduced
What is the most common iatrogenic (injury that resulted from physician treatment) nerve injury?
CN XI
Result of severance of the Phrenic Nerve:
Paralysis of corresponding half of diaphragm
Phrenic Nerve Block
- Produces a short period of paralysis of the diaphragm on one side (e.g., for a lung operation)
- Anesthetic is injected around the nerve where it lies on the anterior surface of the middle third of the anterior scalene muscle
Surgical Phrenic Nerve Crush
- Ex. compressing the nerve injuriously with forceps
- Produces a longer period of paralysis (sometimes for weeks after surgical repair of a diaphragmatic hernia)
If an Accessory Phrenic Nerve is present, it must also be crushed to produce complete paralysis of the _____
Hemidiaphragm
Cervical Plexus Block
- Inhibits nerve impulse conduction
- Anesthetic agent is injected at several points along the posterior border of the SCM, mainly at the junction of its superior and middle thirds, the nerve point of the neck
- Typically result in paralysis of half of the diaphragm due to the inclusion of the phrenic nerve in the block
- This procedure is not performed on persons with pulmonary or cardiac disease