Retrospective Analysis of Acute Laryngeal Trauma / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute laryngeal trauma is a very rare injury. Controversy still exists in regards to its proper management. The aim of this study was to present clinical findings and management of acute laryngeal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We analyzed medical records of 15 patients with acute laryngeal trauma from 1987 to 1997 retrospectively. RESULTS: The most common cause of injury was traffic accident. Hoarseness (93.3 %), odynophagia (86.7 %), subcutaneous emphysema (60.0 %) were the common presenting symptoms and thyroid cartilage was the most common site of fracture. The correlation between dyspnea (p=0.03) and subcutaneous emphysema (p=0.08) and major injury was high. Esophageal examination was performed on 11 patients and revealed no injury. All four patients with vocal cord palsy and minor injury findings improved. Patients with major injury showed bad results of airway and voice, and result of voice was worse that of airway. CONCLUSION: If presenting symptoms are emphysema and dyspnea, major injury should be considered. Routine esophageal examination may be skipped in blunt minor injury. Vocal cord palsy with minor injury finding may not be an operative indication in blunt injury.