Penetrating injury of the anterior neck traverses left of midline at the level of the cricoid. The wound tract penetrates the cricothyroid membrane with a metallic foreign body (FB) lodged in the posterior wall of the upper trachea. The superior tip of FB is at the level of the inferior border of cricoid cartilage. No cartilage fractures.
There is extensive emphysema dissecting along fascial planes in the deep spaces of the neck, with inferior extension into the anterior mediastinum.
Vascular structures are intact; no contrast extravasation or focal haematoma.