BibTex RIS Cite

Open laryngeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature

Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 5, 304 - 307, 06.07.2015

Abstract

Laryngeal fracture is a rare and life threatening entity which is caused by blunt or penetrating neck trauma. Majority of laryngeal fractures are closed type and caused by blunt neck trauma. They frequently left underdiagnosed due to their closed nature and accompanying multisystem trauma. Besides, open laryngeal fracture is exceptional and seen particularly in penetrating neck traumas like gunshot injuries. We describe an unusual case of open laryngeal fracture in which the patient was totally breathing from the wound as if a coniotomy had done.

A 23-year-old male presented to the emergency department after getting involved in a motorcycle accident resulting with a blunt injury to the neck. The patient was breathing from a horizontal open neck wound below the level of the thyroid cartilage. Computed tomography revealed a laryngeal fracture involving thyroid, cricoid and the first ring of trachea. Given the extent of the injury, a laryngeal reconstruction was done. 6 weeks after surgery he had no stridor, with evidence of full vocal cord mobility on both sides.

Early diagnosis is indispensable because it may cause acute airway compromise or significant long term squeal like dysphonia, aspiration, airway stenosis and tracheoesophageal fistula. In laryngeal fracture cases trans-oral intubation may lead irremediable results especially in comminuted fractures or if there’s arytenoid dislocation. Thus, in suspicion of laryngeal fracture associated with airway compromise one should always discuss tracheotomy rather than trans-oral intubation.

References

  • Schaefer SD. The acute management of external laryngeal trauma. A 27-year experience. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992 Jun;118(6):598-604.
  • Gussack GS, Jurkovich GJ, Luterman A. Laryngotracheal trauma: a protocol approach to a rare injury. Laryngoscope 1986 Jun;96(6):660-5.
  • Jalisi S, Zoccoli M. Management of laryngeal fractures--a 10-year experience. J Voice. 2011 Jul;25(4):473-9.
  • Mendelsohn AH, Sidell DR, Berke GS, John MS. Optimal timing of surgical intervention following adult laryngeal trauma. Laryngoscope. 2011 Oct;121(10):2122-7
  • Butler AP, Wood BP, O'Rourke AK, Porubsky ES. Acute external laryngeal trauma: experience with 112 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2005 May;114(5):361-8.
  • Yen PT, Lee HY, Tsai MH, Chan ST, Huang TS. Clinical analysis of external laryngeal trauma. J Laryngol Otol. 1994 Mar;108(3):221-5.
  • Harris HH, Tobin HA. Acute injuries of the larynx and trachea in 49 patients. (Observations over a 15-year period). Laryngoscope. 1970 Sep;80(9):1376-84.
  • Leopold DA. Laryngeal trauma. A historical comparison of treatment methods. Arch Otolaryngol. 1983 Feb;109(2):106-12.
  • Schild JA, Denneny EC. Evaluation and treatment of acute laryngeal fractures. Head Neck. 1989 Nov-Dec;11(6):491-6.
  • Kim JP, Cho SJ, Son HY, Park JJ, Woo SH. Analysis of clinical feature and management of laryngeal fracture: recent 22 case review. Yonsei Med J. 2012 Sep;53(5):992-8.
  • Irish JC, Hekkenberg R, Gullane PJ, Brown DH, Rotstein LE, Neligan P, Ali J. Penetrating and blunt neck trauma: 10-year review of a Canadian experience. Can J Surg. 1997 Feb;40(1):33-8.
  • Lee WT, Eliashar R, Eliachar I. Acute external laryngotracheal trauma: diagnosis and management. Ear Nose Throat J. 2006 Mar;85(3):179-84.
  • Hwang SY, Yeak SC. Management dilemmas in laryngeal trauma. J Laryngol Otol. 2004 May;118(5):325-8.
  • Bent JP 3rd, Silver JR, Porubsky ES. Acute laryngeal trauma: a review of 77 patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993 Sep;109(3 Pt 1):441-9.
  • Vassiliu P, Baker J, Henderson S, Alo K, Velmahos G, Demetriades D. Aerodigestive injuries of the neck. Am Surg. 2001 Jan;67(1):75-9.
  • Chitose S, Sato K, Nakazono H, Fukahori M, Umeno H, Nakashima T. Surgical management for isolated cricoid fracture causing arytenoid immobility. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2014 Apr;41(2):225-8.
  • Thor A, Linder A. Repair of a laryngeal fracture using miniplates. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007 Aug;36(8):748-50.
Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 5, 304 - 307, 06.07.2015

Abstract

References

  • Schaefer SD. The acute management of external laryngeal trauma. A 27-year experience. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992 Jun;118(6):598-604.
  • Gussack GS, Jurkovich GJ, Luterman A. Laryngotracheal trauma: a protocol approach to a rare injury. Laryngoscope 1986 Jun;96(6):660-5.
  • Jalisi S, Zoccoli M. Management of laryngeal fractures--a 10-year experience. J Voice. 2011 Jul;25(4):473-9.
  • Mendelsohn AH, Sidell DR, Berke GS, John MS. Optimal timing of surgical intervention following adult laryngeal trauma. Laryngoscope. 2011 Oct;121(10):2122-7
  • Butler AP, Wood BP, O'Rourke AK, Porubsky ES. Acute external laryngeal trauma: experience with 112 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2005 May;114(5):361-8.
  • Yen PT, Lee HY, Tsai MH, Chan ST, Huang TS. Clinical analysis of external laryngeal trauma. J Laryngol Otol. 1994 Mar;108(3):221-5.
  • Harris HH, Tobin HA. Acute injuries of the larynx and trachea in 49 patients. (Observations over a 15-year period). Laryngoscope. 1970 Sep;80(9):1376-84.
  • Leopold DA. Laryngeal trauma. A historical comparison of treatment methods. Arch Otolaryngol. 1983 Feb;109(2):106-12.
  • Schild JA, Denneny EC. Evaluation and treatment of acute laryngeal fractures. Head Neck. 1989 Nov-Dec;11(6):491-6.
  • Kim JP, Cho SJ, Son HY, Park JJ, Woo SH. Analysis of clinical feature and management of laryngeal fracture: recent 22 case review. Yonsei Med J. 2012 Sep;53(5):992-8.
  • Irish JC, Hekkenberg R, Gullane PJ, Brown DH, Rotstein LE, Neligan P, Ali J. Penetrating and blunt neck trauma: 10-year review of a Canadian experience. Can J Surg. 1997 Feb;40(1):33-8.
  • Lee WT, Eliashar R, Eliachar I. Acute external laryngotracheal trauma: diagnosis and management. Ear Nose Throat J. 2006 Mar;85(3):179-84.
  • Hwang SY, Yeak SC. Management dilemmas in laryngeal trauma. J Laryngol Otol. 2004 May;118(5):325-8.
  • Bent JP 3rd, Silver JR, Porubsky ES. Acute laryngeal trauma: a review of 77 patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993 Sep;109(3 Pt 1):441-9.
  • Vassiliu P, Baker J, Henderson S, Alo K, Velmahos G, Demetriades D. Aerodigestive injuries of the neck. Am Surg. 2001 Jan;67(1):75-9.
  • Chitose S, Sato K, Nakazono H, Fukahori M, Umeno H, Nakashima T. Surgical management for isolated cricoid fracture causing arytenoid immobility. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2014 Apr;41(2):225-8.
  • Thor A, Linder A. Repair of a laryngeal fracture using miniplates. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007 Aug;36(8):748-50.
There are 17 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Case Reports
Authors

Burak Ulkumen

Onur Celik

Nevin Sahin This is me

Publication Date July 6, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2015 Volume: 2 Issue: 5

Cite

APA Ulkumen, B., Celik, O., & Sahin, N. (2015). Open laryngeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature. Medical Science and Discovery, 2(5), 304-307. https://doi.org/10.17546/msd.00823
AMA Ulkumen B, Celik O, Sahin N. Open laryngeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature. Med Sci Discov. July 2015;2(5):304-307. doi:10.17546/msd.00823
Chicago Ulkumen, Burak, Onur Celik, and Nevin Sahin. “Open Laryngeal Fracture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature”. Medical Science and Discovery 2, no. 5 (July 2015): 304-7. https://doi.org/10.17546/msd.00823.
EndNote Ulkumen B, Celik O, Sahin N (July 1, 2015) Open laryngeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature. Medical Science and Discovery 2 5 304–307.
IEEE B. Ulkumen, O. Celik, and N. Sahin, “Open laryngeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature”, Med Sci Discov, vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 304–307, 2015, doi: 10.17546/msd.00823.
ISNAD Ulkumen, Burak et al. “Open Laryngeal Fracture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature”. Medical Science and Discovery 2/5 (July 2015), 304-307. https://doi.org/10.17546/msd.00823.
JAMA Ulkumen B, Celik O, Sahin N. Open laryngeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature. Med Sci Discov. 2015;2:304–307.
MLA Ulkumen, Burak et al. “Open Laryngeal Fracture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature”. Medical Science and Discovery, vol. 2, no. 5, 2015, pp. 304-7, doi:10.17546/msd.00823.
Vancouver Ulkumen B, Celik O, Sahin N. Open laryngeal fracture: A case report and review of the literature. Med Sci Discov. 2015;2(5):304-7.