Mechanisms of Penetrating Trauma to the Neck.

There are enough firearms in the United States that every man, woman and child can have one and still 67 million would be left over. Penetrating trauma from firearms has increased recently with easier availability of military grade weapons to civilians and an increased incidence of terrorism. Understanding of wound ballistics has a definite role in the betterment of neck trauma management. This article discusses the mechanisms of penetrating neck trauma with special emphasis on penetrating projectile trauma and a brief introduction of types of firearms and their evolution. All firearms work on the same basic mechanism which has evolved over centuries since the Chinese discovered gunpowder. The cartridge is the basic unit of a firearm containing the casing, propellant, primer and actual bullet or projectile. High velocity rifles and low velocity handguns revolve around modifications in the structure of cartridge used and the properties of the firearm. Once fired, the projectile achieves muzzle velocity which is subject to slowing down from gravity and atmospheric friction. As the projectile enters the target tissue, the amount of damage sustained depends on the amount of energy transferred and the study of those factors is called terminal ballistics. Penetrating neck trauma carries significant morbidity and mortality even with advancement of medical science. Understanding the mechanisms of ballistic trauma plays a crucial role in diagnosis and management of these wounds and it is important for surgeons to understand the mechanisms by which tissue damage is incurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]