The pharynx is made up of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx. Frequency of traumatic injury is related to accessibility of the site, i. e., the oropharynx is most commonly injured of the three (e. g., impalement injuries), followed by the hypopharynx (e. g., foreign bodies, chemical burns).

Penetrating trauma injures the lining of the pharynx (e. g., toothbrush, sharp objects), which can result in a spread of infection into the parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal space, as well as to the floor of the mouth.

Superficial injuries do not require further management. However, deeper or complex injuries must be surgically explored and then treated “from the inside out.”

Injuries of the salivary glands occur almost exclusively in penetrating and missile injuries. Salivary gland tissue injury does not usually require treatment. However, there may be concomitant injury of the accompanying nerves, i. e., the facial nerve at the parotid gland and the lingual nerve at the submandibular gland. For this reason, thorough evaluation of nerve function is absolutely essential in salivary gland injury.