Background:Any neck injury that disrupts the platysma muscle is classified as a penetrating neck injury. The neck area is particularly vulnerable to various types of injuries due to its dense concentration of vital organ structures in a relatively small and exposed anatomical space. Material & Methods: Study Design: Hospital-based, cross-sectional study. Study Area: The study was conducted at Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, under Department of ENT. Study Period: 1 year. Sample Size:The study consisted of 60 subjects. Sampling Technique: Simple Random technique. The data regarding the study population were collected from the Hospital database and the registers of operation theatres, they were compiled in a proforma. The study population were selected by purposive sampling from those patients who were admitted to the hospital and matched the inclusion criteria. All the data pertinent to the patients is kept confidential. Data were categorized according to the socio-demographic pattern of the patient, cause for the injury, site of the neck injury (according to the defined zone of the neck), type and extent of the injury, presentation at the time of admission, delay in the hospital arrival, duration of the hospital stay, records of mortality, treatment and outcome. Results: Skin, soft tissue and small vessels were severed in all the cases (100%). 4 cases (6.67%) had laryngeal injury. Hypopharynx was injured in 3 cases (5%). Thyroid cartilage was injured in 13 cases (21.67%). The breach in the cricothyroid membrane was seen in 12 cases (20%). The submandibular gland was injured in 3 (5%) cases. Conclusion: The occurrence of cutthroat injuries, along with related complications and fatalities, is increasingly prevalent in today's society. Predominantly affected are agricultural equipment users, unemployed young adults, from low-income backgrounds who experience suicidal and homicidal neck injuries.

Penetrating Neck Injury, Evaluation, Management