Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case report

Laryngeal fractures are a rare event. Penetrating neck injuries produced by powered tools can be life-threatening and pose a challenge for head and neck surgeons. We report the case of a 51-year-old male that attempted suicide by self-inflicting a penetrating anterior neck injury with a powered kni...

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Main Authors: Miguel Carvalho, Márcia Mourão, Miguel Silva, Sérgio Raposo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Portuguese Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 2021-09-01
Series:Revista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
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Online Access:https://journalsporl.com/index.php/sporl/article/view/2897
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author Miguel Carvalho
Márcia Mourão
Miguel Silva
Sérgio Raposo
author_facet Miguel Carvalho
Márcia Mourão
Miguel Silva
Sérgio Raposo
author_sort Miguel Carvalho
collection DOAJ
description Laryngeal fractures are a rare event. Penetrating neck injuries produced by powered tools can be life-threatening and pose a challenge for head and neck surgeons. We report the case of a 51-year-old male that attempted suicide by self-inflicting a penetrating anterior neck injury with a powered knife. Neck exploration revealed section of all infrahyoid muscles exposing the carotid artery bilaterally, multiple laryngeal fractures, hypopharyngeal and esophageal lacerations. We classified the penetrating injury as a Schaefer-Fuhrman group 4. Reconstruction of the hypopharynx, esophagus and strap muscles was done with absorbable sutures. Reconstruction of the thyroid cartilage was performed with non-absorbable sutures. Post-operative evaluation revealed structural integrity of the hypopharynx and esophagus, as well as bilateral vocal fold mobility 6 months after the surgery. To improve patient survival and outcome, it’s of utmost importance that head and neck surgeons have a comprehensive understanding of the management of these unusual type of injuries.
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series Revista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
spelling doaj-art-633f8edd722445b49269e9dff684c4842025-08-20T02:21:20ZengPortuguese Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck SurgeryRevista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço2184-64992021-09-0159310.34631/sporl.927Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case reportMiguel Carvalho0Márcia Mourão1Miguel Silva2Sérgio Raposo3Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, PortugalServiço de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, PortugalServiço de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, PortugalServiço de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Portugal Laryngeal fractures are a rare event. Penetrating neck injuries produced by powered tools can be life-threatening and pose a challenge for head and neck surgeons. We report the case of a 51-year-old male that attempted suicide by self-inflicting a penetrating anterior neck injury with a powered knife. Neck exploration revealed section of all infrahyoid muscles exposing the carotid artery bilaterally, multiple laryngeal fractures, hypopharyngeal and esophageal lacerations. We classified the penetrating injury as a Schaefer-Fuhrman group 4. Reconstruction of the hypopharynx, esophagus and strap muscles was done with absorbable sutures. Reconstruction of the thyroid cartilage was performed with non-absorbable sutures. Post-operative evaluation revealed structural integrity of the hypopharynx and esophagus, as well as bilateral vocal fold mobility 6 months after the surgery. To improve patient survival and outcome, it’s of utmost importance that head and neck surgeons have a comprehensive understanding of the management of these unusual type of injuries. https://journalsporl.com/index.php/sporl/article/view/2897neck injurysuicidereconstructive surgery
spellingShingle Miguel Carvalho
Márcia Mourão
Miguel Silva
Sérgio Raposo
Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case report
Revista Portuguesa Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
neck injury
suicide
reconstructive surgery
title Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case report
title_full Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case report
title_fullStr Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case report
title_full_unstemmed Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case report
title_short Self-inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury - A case report
title_sort self inflicted powered knife penetrating neck injury a case report
topic neck injury
suicide
reconstructive surgery
url https://journalsporl.com/index.php/sporl/article/view/2897
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AT miguelsilva selfinflictedpoweredknifepenetratingneckinjuryacasereport
AT sergioraposo selfinflictedpoweredknifepenetratingneckinjuryacasereport