@article{ref1,
title="Injury patterns in near-hanging patients: how much workup is really needed?",
journal="American surgeon",
year="2019",
author="Berke, David M. and Helmer, Stephen D. and Reyes, Jared and Haan, James M.",
volume="85",
number="5",
pages="549-555",
abstract="Survivors of near-hangings suffer anoxic brain injuries, but it remains uncertain whether the incidence of associated injuries warrants extensive workup or trauma activation. An 11-year retrospective review was conducted on adult patients with a hanging mechanism who underwent trauma workup and management. The majority of patients (n = 98) were white (88.8%) males (75.5%) with an average age of 30 ± 12.3 years. Two-hundred fifty-four CT and magnetic resonance scans were performed and eight injuries were uncovered: three thyroid cartilage/hyoid fractures; three vertebral injuries; and two cervical vascular injuries. Anoxic brain injury was diagnosed clinically in 35 patients (35.7%) and was present in all 19 patients (19.4%) who died. Only one patient had intra-abdominal injury requiring surgical intervention. Injuries were more likely in patients with abnormal Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <i>versus</i> normal GCS (55% <i>vs</i> 10.5%, respectively). Patients who present after near-hanging have a low incidence of associated injuries. Workup can be restricted to patients with abnormal GCS scores and for specific signs and symptoms or high-risk energy mechanisms. The trauma team can be activated for signs of trauma.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-1348",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}