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Clinical analysis of external laryngeal trauma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

P. T. Yen ,
H. Y. Lee ,
M. H. Tsai ,
S. T. Chan  and
T. S. Huang
P. T. Yen*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
H. Y. Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
M. H. Tsai
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
S. T. Chan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
T. S. Huang
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
*
Pen-Tung Yen, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 199 Tung Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. Fax: (8862) 7193658
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Abstract

Thirty patients with external laryngeal trauma were analysed retrospectively. Injuries were mostly caused by motor vehicle accidents (car = 36.7 percent; motorcycle = 23.3 per cent). The main presenting symptoms and signs were hoarseness, neck tenderness, dysphagia, and neck emphysema. Sites of laryngeal injury included arytenoid swelling, vocal fold injury, soft tissue contusion or superficial mucosal laceration, cricoarytenoid dislocation, thyroid fracture, epiglottic fracture and mixed injuries. Treatment was varied depending on the severity of the injuries. Sixteen cases were managed conservatively by medical treatment; two cases received intubation; four cases were treated initially by tracheostomy; eight cases received surgical repair and/or reconstruction; 11 cases made a full recovery of the voice and 18 cases fair voice recovery due to either sustained vocal fold swelling or limitation of vocal fold movement. One case was graded as poor. Twenty-eight cases had good airway patency and two cases fair airway patency. A delay in the early detection of laryngeal trauma may precipitate into life-threatening airway problems, therefore prompt and accurate diagnosis should be followed immediately by skilful airway management.

Keywords

LarynxWounds and injuriesTracheostomy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 108 , Issue 3 , March 1994 , pp. 221 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1994

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