Abstract
The trauma of the cervical region is characterized by its high complexity and high morbidity. It contains respiratory, digestive, vascular, neurologic, lymphatic, and endocrine systems. The first step is to evaluate and manage the airway, ensuring a safe airway. Once the airway is secured, the neck should be fully evaluated. Shock, active hemorrhage, expanding or pulsatile hematoma, airway compression, or dyspnea, air bubbling through wound and instrument in situ indicate that the patient should be taken immediately to the operating room. The neck is divided into three zones anatomically delimited: Zone I, Zone II, and Zone III. Injuries in Zone I should be evaluated for esophagus or airway problems. Injuries in Zone III might require expertise from ENT or vascular/neurosurgery. Zone II traumas require CT angiogram to evaluate the carotid and vertebral arteries.