Validity of no-zone approach for management of isolated penetrating neck injuries in hemodynamically stable patients

Background: Routine neck exploration for isolated penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) in hemodynamically stable patients increases the frequency of unnecessary interventions and complications. Current management protocol involves the no zone approach which uses physical examination and computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) to guide treatment. The aim was to assess the validity of the no-zone approach in the management of isolated PNIs in hemodynamically stable patients.Methods: This retrospective study included patients with isolated PNIs with soft signs who were hemodynamically stable. They were classified into patients with negative CTA findings and were managed conservatively and patients with positive CTA findings suspecting aerodigestive tract injuries (ADTIs) who were submitted to further selective investigations to confirm or rule out these injuries. Detected injuries were managed accordingly.Results: This study included 106 PNIs patients who had soft signs and were hemodynamic stable. 37 cases (34.9%) had negative CTA findings and were managed conservatively. Sixty nine patients (65.1%) had positive CTA findings and were subjected to subsequent selective investigations and revealed 3 patients with negative endoscopic findings who passed without need for any surgical intervention. Therefore, 40 (37.7%) patients were saved from surgery with no missed injuries. Patients with definitive injuries (66 patients) underwent neck exploration and managed accordingly. No missed injuries were recorded in this study. Complications were detected in 6 cases (5.7%) while death was recorded in 2 cases (1.9%).Conclusions: No-zone approach offers a safe management protocol for isolated PNIs in hemodynamically stable patients. It provides no missed injuries, negligible rates of negative exploration and minimal complications and mortality.

A tailored protocol in management of penetrating neck injuries: experience at a level 1 trauma centre

Background: The management of penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) evolved markedly over last year’s towards more conservative approaches. Recent improvements in imaging modalities as multi-detector CT-angiography (MDCT-A) produced a paradigmatic shift towards 'no-zone' approach. In this study, we adopted a tailored protocol to deal with such injuries with less dependency on zone classification.Methods: This prospective study included patients with PNIs from February 2012 to January 2014. Unstable patients and patients with hard signs in zone-II were managed by immediate exploration. Patients with hard signs in zones-I and III had MDCT-A to check feasibility of endovascular intervention. However, all patients with soft signs and asymptomatic patients underwent MDCT-A regardless the zone affected to determine the need for therapeutic intervention. Complementary investigations were added in some cases with equivocal MDCT-A results.Results: Our study included 85 patients. Majority were males (94%; n=80) with mean age 27±4. Stabs were the main causative injury (51%; n=43). 63 (74%) patients were stable; with majority (64%; n=40/63) were symptomatic (18 presented with hard signs and 22 presented with soft signs). 53 (62%) patients had MDCT-A with sensitivity, specificity of 77%, 97% respectively and significant p value <0.05. After applying this protocol, we avoided 37% (31/85) non-therapeutic neck exploration, with only 4 (7.4%) negative cases on exploration. We experienced no missed injuries in the conservative group, yet 2 (3.7%) missed nerve injuries were encountered in intervention group.Conclusions: Zones-classification is losing popularity nowadays and shouldn't be the cornerstone of the new management protocols in PNIs. This selective tailored approach can be effectively used in management of PNIs. It avoids missed injuries and unnecessary explorations significantly.

Effectiveness of No-Zone Approach for Management of Isolated Penetrating Neck Injuries Among Hemodynamically Stable Patients. A Longitudinal Retrospective Study.

Background: Routine neck exploration for isolated penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) in hemodynamically stable patients increases the frequency of nontherapeutic surgeries, and complications. Current management protocol involves the no zone approach which uses physical examination and computerized tomographic angiography to guide treatment plans. This work aimed to study the effectiveness and reliability of no-zone approach for management of isolated PNIs in hemodynamically stable patients. Methods: cases of isolated PNIs in hemodynamically stable patients were managed using no zone approach. Detected injuries were managed accordingly. Results: This study included 106 patients. 34.9% of patients were managed conservatively while surgery was done at 65.09%. Vascular management was done in 40.57%, laryngotracheal repair in 29.2%, tracheostomy in 17%, pharyngeal repair in 7.55%, esophageal repair in 6.6%, and accessory nerve repair in 2.83%. Complications occurred in 16.04% of cases in the form of vascular complications (7.5%), respiratory complications (5.7%), pharyngoesophageal complications (1.9%), infections (12.3%), and neurological complications (7.5%). The survivors were 91.5% while deaths were 8.5%. Conclusion: The no-zone approach offers the ideal management for isolated PNIs in hemodynamically stable patients. It is advantageous over traditional approaches. Further studies are required to augment the evidence for its use as the gold standard management for such cases. Trial registration: the study was retrospectively registered at research registry with Research Registry UIN researchregistry5385 on February 26, 2020. Keywords: no zone approach, isolated penetrating neck injuries, hemodynamically stable patients, vascular injuries, laryngotracheal injury.