What are hard signs of neck trauma?

'Hard signs' indicating immediate explorative surgery in penetrating neck injury.
  • Shock.
  • Pulsatile bleeding or expanding haematoma.
  • Audible bruit or palpable thrill.
  • Airway compromise.
  • Wound bubbling.
  • Subcutaneous emphysema.
  • Stridor.
  • Hoarseness.
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What are 5 key symptoms of a neck injury?

Signs and Symptoms
  • Localized neck pain, which may or may not be severe.
  • Neck stiffness.
  • Pain radiating from the neck down to the shoulders and/or arms.
  • Swelling and bruising.
  • Tenderness.
  • Decrease in sensation in the arms, legs or body.
  • Muscle weakness or paralysis of the arms or legs.
  • Difficulty breathing.
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What are soft signs of penetrating neck trauma?

The soft signs of penetrating neck trauma include minor hemoptysis, hematemesis, dysphonia, dysphagia, subcutaneous, or mediastinal air, non-expanding hematoma. Beware that penetrating injuries involving zones 1 and 3 have a higher risk for occult vascular injury.
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What is hard signs?

An obvious or unambiguous sign (1) of a neurological disorder, such as an absent or pathological reflex, an abnormal EEG, a unilateral paralysis, or a loss of function of one or more of the cranial nerves. Compare soft sign. From: hard sign in A Dictionary of Psychology »
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What is blunt trauma to the neck?

Blunt injury to the neck may result in bruising, ecchymosis, or hematoma at the site of injury. Dysphonia, dysphagia, or apparent deviation of the airway may be the result of extrinsic compression of the airway or direct injury to the larynx or pharynx.
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Penetrating Neck Injuries



What happens if you fall hard on your neck?

Symptoms include pain, reduced flexibility and swelling. Sprains range from mild to severe. Those who have, or who are suspected to have, a severe neck sprain should immediately be immobilized and emergency medical assistance should be sought.
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When should I worry about neck injury?

Call your doctor if you have neck pain that: Worsens in spite of self-care. Persists after several weeks of self-care. Radiates down your arms or legs.
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What is a hematoma in the neck after injury?

A neck hematoma is caused by blunt neck trauma that is serious enough to cause dissection of the carotid artery or bleeding from a soft tissue injury. Carotid artery dissection secondary to trauma is particularly dangerous because it is a high flow artery that carries blood to the brain.
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What is a zone 3 injury of the neck?

Zone III represents a difficult anatomic zone of injury for distal vascular control. At times, subluxation, dislocation, or resection of the mandible may be necessary to gain operative vascular control.
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What are the soft signs?

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are clinically detectable abnormalities that include poor motor coordination, sensory perceptual difficulties, and involuntary movements.
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How do you examine a neck injury?

  1. Provide reassurance and analgesia.
  2. Whilst minimising neck movement, gently palpate the posterior midline of the neck. ...
  3. Repeat the process lateral to the midline on both sides.
  4. Tenderness may indicate vertebral or soft tissue injury.
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How long does neck trauma take to heal?

With proper treatment and rest, most patients will recover from a neck strain or sprain within four to six weeks. If the strain or sprain is severe, it can take three months or more to fully recover.
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What are 3 signs or symptoms of a head neck spinal injury?

Emergency signs and symptoms

Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head or back. Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body. Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes. Loss of bladder or bowel control.
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What are red flags for neck pain?

Some More Specific Red Flags for Neck Pain:

Unexplained fever and chills. The pounding on the spine is painful. A chronic headache that abruptly appears. Severe headaches, the inability to bend your head, fever, and an altered state of mind are all meningitis symptoms.
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What should you look for after a neck injury?

Common neck injury symptoms

Muscle spasms in neck and shoulders. Neck pain. Stiffness in the neck. Weakness in the legs, arms, hands or fingers.
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Can you fracture your neck and not know?

He added that it is also possible for neck fractures to go undetected by doctors initially, even using scans and x-rays. "In that case it could have been a subtle fracture that you couldn't have seen," Dr. Muzzonigro said.
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What is a fatal neck injury?

Neck injuries can be paralyzing or even fatal if they involve damage to the spinal cord, which runs through the vertebrae. If your injury causes your vertebrae to become misaligned, you could be in trouble because that means they might cause damage to the spinal cord.
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What are some serious neck injuries?

Some of the most common neck problems include:
  • Neck fracture (cervical vertebrae)
  • Neck sprain.
  • Pinched nerve.
  • Spondylosis, or arthritis in the neck.
  • Whiplash.
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What is the most commonly injured structure in the neck?

The internal jugular vein (9%) and carotid artery (7%) are the most common sites of vascular injuries. Injury to the pharynx or the esophagus occurs in 5-15% of cases. The larynx or the trachea is injured in 4-12% of cases. Major nerve injury occurs in 3-8% of patients sustaining penetrating neck trauma.
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How do you know if you have internal bleeding in your neck?

Signs that you may be having a throat or neck bleed:
  1. Swelling in the neck.
  2. Choking.
  3. Trouble swallowing.
  4. Trouble breathing.
  5. A change in skin color over your neck or throat.
  6. Coughing up or throwing up blood without a nosebleed or mouth bleed. ...
  7. A change in the tone of your voice which may be noticed by you or by others.
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Should a hematoma be hard or soft?

A hematoma is a bad bruise. It happens when an injury causes blood to collect and pool under the skin. The pooling blood gives the skin a spongy, rubbery, lumpy feel.
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How long does a hematoma lump last?

Mild hematomas and contusions typically heal within about five days. A large hematoma may last weeks to months and as it heals it will change color and slowly shrink in size. Hematoma pain and swelling may be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. Aspirin should not be used as it may increase bleeding.
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What does a minor neck fracture feel like?

If you fracture your neck, you'll feel extreme pain, swelling, and a loss of feeling in your arms and legs. You shouldn't be moved, and you should go to the hospital right away.
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Can a neck injury heal on its own?

Most neck strain or sprains heal on their own within a few days. During the healing process, pain may vary from mild to severe. If the pain intensifies or does not subside within a few days, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
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How long is too long for neck pain?

Acute neck pain usually goes away within about one to two weeks. In some people it comes back again in certain situations, such as after work or intensive sports. If the symptoms last longer than three months, it's considered to be chronic neck pain.
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