A Case of Delayed Airway Obstruction Associated with Prevertebral Hematoma and Cervical Vertebra Fracture

ABSTRACT

Neck trauma can result in a spectrum of injuries and complications ranging from incidental to life threatening, including hemorrhagic shock, acute neurologic injury, and airway obstruction. A prevertebral hematoma associated with a cervical vertebra fracture is not a common condition, moreover, in such cases, airway obstruction is rare. If this condition occur, it may very fatal that can producing hypoxia, cyanosis, acidemia, hypoxic brain damage, and then death. For this reason, the attending physitian must careful observation and protect the airway until the hematoma is reduced and other complications relieved. Recently, we experienced a case of airway obstruction induced by cervical vertebra teardrop fracture (C5). The hematoma progressed slowly and then progressively; Finally it compressed the airway. So we present this case with a reviews of the literature.