Complete cricotracheal transection due to blunt neck trauma without significant symptoms

Abstract

Laryngotracheal injuries are relatively rare but their mortality rate is fairly high. Complete disruption of trachea is extremely rare and a systematic approach is needed for early diagnosis and favourable outcome. The patients symptoms and physical signs do not necessarily correlate with the severity of the injuries and this case report highlights it. This is a case report of 25-year-old man who arrived to the emergency department 8 h after a motor accident in which a rope was wrapped around his neck. Because of the good general and respiratory condition of the patient on admission, the pathognomonic signs of laryngeal injury were not noticed. A computed tomographic scan showed distortion of cricotracheal framework. Flexible bronchoscopy showed cricotracheal transaction. Immediately, the endotracheal tube was advanced distal to the transection site under bronchoscopic guide and then after neck exploration primary end-to-end cricotracheal anastomosis was performed.