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Severe laryngeal injury caused by blunt trauma to the neck: a case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

D. Goldenberg ,
A. Golz ,
R. Flax-Goldenberg  and
H. Z. Joachims
D. Goldenberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
A. Golz
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
R. Flax-Goldenberg
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Carmel Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
H. Z. Joachims
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr David Goldenberg, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Medical Center, P.O.B. 9602, Haifa, Israel. Fax: 972-4-8515710 email:gdavid@tx.technion.ac.il
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Abstract

Acute blunt laryngeal trauma can be a life-threatening event and often poses a difficult airway management problem. Patients may be unable to supply important anemnestic facts because of aphonia or intubation as a result of their injury. Therefore the immediate recognition and appropriate initial assessment and treatment are vital for a successful outcome. The first step is assuring an appropriate airway, either by careful intubation or temporary tracheotomy. An assessment of potential vascular and oesophageal injuries must be undertaken. The use of computerized tomography (CT) with contrast material is especially useful in identifying and localizing fhe damage caused by blunt neck injuries. Laryngeal fractures, air in the soft tissues and the extravasation of contrast material in the neck are all helpful in assessing the injuries before surgical intervention. Immediate initial surgery is aimed at stabilizing the cartilaginous framework and repairing the mucosa. We present a case of severe laryngeal injury caused by blunt trauma to the neck; our evaluation, treatment and the outcome.

Keywords

Woundsnon-penetratingLarynxX-raydiagnosticSurgeryoperative
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 12 , December 1997 , pp. 1174 - 1176
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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