ABSTRACT

Head and neck blunt and sharp injuries are mostly lifethreatening cases that need urgent interventions. On the contrary, stabilized cases are advised to receive radiological examinations and close care. The most common injuries to the neck are venous and pharyngo-esophageal ones and in those cases the most common cause of death is hemorrhage.

Primary goal in the emergent cases is to achieve the hemostasis. Airway management, surgery and wound debridement follow as the secondary steps. Once those are achieved, reconstruction can be planned. Finally, cosmesis, prosthetic interventions and rehabilitation are the last steps.

In this review, primarily the general concepts of the head and neck blunt and sharp injuries are mentioned; and then specific injuries such as vascular, esophageal, laryngotracheal, parotideal and auricular wounds are explained.