Everything in life can be compartmentalised – and OMFS on-call is no different. If one really wants to break things down to the very basics, there are only really three different true OMFS emergencies requiring a timely intervention that you may have to handle while on-call: Airway compromise, Infection, and Bleeding (or a combination of the three). This isn’t to say you have to handle these issues alone – senior support would be expected in any of these cases – however, knowledge of the pathophysiology, consequences, and urgencies is crucial for diagnosis, escalation, and initial management.

This is intended to provide an overview of the assessment and initial management of penetrating neck injury for OMFS first on call based on RCS England 2017 Guidelines1. It is important to ensure local policies regarding which specialties manage these injuries are followed and to involve seniors early. Links have been provided to additional sources details of surgical intervention.