Clinical Reasoning: Neck Trauma

Question 1

What defines Zone I of the neck?

Answer 1

Zone 1, or “the lower zone” consists of the portion of the neck between the clavicles and the cricoid cartilage.

Question 2

What defines Zone II of the neck?

Answer 2

Zone 2, or the “middle zone” consists of the portion of the neck between the cricoid cartilage and angle of the mandible.

Question 3

What defines Zone III of the neck?

Answer 3

Zone 3, or the “upper zone” consists of the portion of the neck between the angle of the mandible and the base of the skull.

Question 4

How is the platysma used to define injury severity of penetrating neck injuries?

Answer 4

If the platysma has been violated (i.e. is injured), it is likely that there is injury to deeper structures. If the platysma is not injured, the wound can be deemed superficial.

Question 5

The neck fascia in zone I is continuous with the ___________. So injury to zone I can potentially cause a pneumothorax.

Answer 5

mediastinum