A clothesline injury occurs when the neck encounters something taut or rigid strung across the person's path.
Typical situation: rope or wire that catches the person across the neck AND the person is traveling at speed
Scenarios:
(1) motorbike, dirt bike, all-terrain vehicle or bicycle
(2) occupational
(3) football (clothesline tackle)
(4) as a booby trap (Jeep drivers in World War II)
The most common type of trauma is laryngotracheal injury, including transection.
Other structures that may be damaged include
(1) carotid artery
(2) esophagus
(3) cervical spine fracture
(4) mandibular or facial injury
(5) decapitation
