Neck
The examination of the neck in the secondary trauma survey should cover the:
- cervical spine:
- always assume a cervical fracture until clinical and imaging evidence to the contrary
- inspect and palpate with in-line immobilisation in a neutral position
- consider plane films and further imaging, eg CT scanning, on the guidance of a radiologist
- trachea; confirm that central; deviation may indicate mediastinal shift secondary to (haemo-)pneumothorax
- neck veins; engorged veins may indicate cardiac tamponade
- skin; penetrating injuries deep to platysma require operative investigation or imaging with angiography
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