Zone I => sternal notch to cricoid cartilage

• CT angiography, endoscopy, and bronchoscopy are indicated for evaluation.
  • Note: suspect hemothorax or pneumothorax in patients presenting with dyspnea or absent breath sounds (20% of patients with penetrating neck trauma have a pneumothorax or hemothorax on further examination).
• Zone II => cricoid cartilage to angle of the mandible
  • Violation of the platysma mandates surgical exploration.
• Zone III => angle of the mandible and above
  • CT angiography and endoscopy indicated for evaluation.