Strangulation Injuries

Overview

4.6 out of 5 (26 Reviews)

Credits

1.50

Post-Assessment Questions

7

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

3 Mar 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

90 Minutes


Unlimited Nurse CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6743 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 8017 hours of CE.

1 Year Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$39.99 per 1 year per user
 
Need Help?  If you have a system or content concerns, please contact support@statpearls.com

Activity Description

Strangulation injuries result from external forces applied to the neck, causing a range of traumatic pathology. These injuries occur in various clinical scenarios, including suicide attempts, intimate partner violence, sports injuries, and motor vehicle trauma. The severity of damage affecting the cardiorespiratory system, head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat varies from minor soft tissue damage to life-threatening vascular and airway compromise. Injuries associated with high morbidity include tracheobronchial damage and cerebrovascular injuries involving the carotid and vertebral arteries. Blunt cerebrovascular injury can impair cerebral perfusion, leading to asphyxia and rapid neuronal death. Mortality primarily results from cerebral hypoxemia and subsequent ischemia, while aerodigestive injuries contribute significantly to morbidity.

The diagnosis of strangulation injuries involves a thorough clinical assessment, including a detailed history and physical examination, with attention to neurological deficits, airway compromise, and signs of vascular injury. Imaging modalities such as computed tomography angiography help identify cerebrovascular injuries, while laryngoscopy may be necessary for airway evaluation. Management focuses on securing the airway, stabilizing circulation, and addressing vascular injuries, with anticoagulation considered for blunt cerebrovascular injuries when appropriate. Prognosis varies based on injury severity, with mild cases resolving without complications, while severe vascular or airway injuries may result in long-term neurological deficits or fatal outcomes.

This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance learners' proficiency in evaluating and managing strangulation injuries. Participants will deepen their understanding of the condition's etiology, pathophysiology, presentation, and best diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The condition's implications for clinical medicine, forensic pathology, and criminology will also be explained. Greater competence will enable clinicians to engage in interprofessional collaboration, facilitating accurate diagnosis, coordinated management, and appropriate referrals for both medical and forensic considerations.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify signs and symptoms suggestive of strangulation injuries, including subtle indicators of vital organ damage.

  • Select the appropriate diagnostic tests to evaluate patients with strangulation injuries and determine the risk of vital organ damage.

  • Apply best practices to manage strangulation injuries, mitigate their complications, and address associated psychological and emotional trauma.

  • Collaborate with the interprofessional team to educate, treat, monitor, and provide psychological support for patients with strangulation injuries to improve health outcomes.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurses: StatPearls designates this activity for 1.50 ANCC contact hour(s). Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Jason H. on 11/28/2021

Caroline S. on 6/11/2022

MARIUS T. on 9/26/2022

Jennifer K. on 10/20/2022

Nicole H. on 11/4/2022

Andrea C. on 12/14/2022

Sara Z. on 12/18/2022

Jill P. on 3/29/2023

Eric P. on 5/3/2023

Laura C. on 5/3/2023

Christopher T. on 5/27/2023

Lamiere D. on 7/30/2023

Lucy K. on 8/7/2023

Raymond E. on 9/16/2023

Steven P. on 11/2/2023

Marc H. on 11/9/2023

Kevin B. on 11/27/2023

Jaime B. on 12/26/2023

Dorcas Y. on 2/12/2024

MARIUS T. on 2/22/2024

Alexandra U. on 4/25/2024

Susan H. on 5/24/2024

Brianna M. on 7/2/2024

Scott K. on 10/3/2024

Daniel L. on 10/7/2024

Andrew F. on 2/13/2025

Unlimited Nurse CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6743 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 8017 hours of CE.

1 Year Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$39.99 per 1 year per user