Soft Tissue Neck Injury

Abstract

Soft tissue neck injuries in sports do not occur infrequently. They usually occur with high-velocity trauma and in contact sports. Most injuries are due to blunt neck trauma, but penetrating injury is also possible. The most common neck injury is the usually benign cervical strain. However, more severe injuries may occur due to the presence of vascular, digestive, and airway structures located in the neck. It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms suggestive of more serious injury and know how to stabilize them, as they can quickly become life-threatening.