Blunt Neck Trauma: Torn Internal Jugular Vein After a Motor Vehicle Crash

• Published in: Journal of emergency nursing 2008-06, Vol.34 (3), p.249-250
• Main Author: Clark, Jason D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Air Ambulances; Bone surgery; Emergency Medical Services - methods; Emergency Service, Hospital; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Jugular Veins - diagnostic imaging; Jugular Veins - injuries; Jugular Veins - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Trauma - diagnosis; Multiple Trauma - therapy; Neck; Neck Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Neck Injuries - therapy; Nursing; Orthopedic Procedures - methods; Risk Assessment; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Traffic accidents & safety; Treatment Outcome; Triage; Vascular Surgical Procedures - methods; Veins & arteries; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - diagnostic imaging; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - etiology; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - therapy
• ISSN: 0099-1767; 1527-2966
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2008.02.022

Clark et al present a case study of a 58-year-old man, who had a wide diagonal abrasion from the base of his left neck extending across his chest. The patient was transported to the operating suite for neck exploration. During the surgery, the hematoma was evacuated and a tear to the left internal jugular vein was discovered. The patient's sternocleidomastoid muscle was completely severed and also needed to be repaired. Multiple orthopedic injuries to his extremities were recorded and repaired by orthopedic surgeons. After the multiple surgical procedures, the patient remained in the critical care unit for 14 days and had a total hospital stay of 27 days.