Tracheoesophageal perforation following external blunt trauma

ABSTRACT

External trauma accounts for less than 10% of all esophageal perforations, the major resulting from penetrating trauma. External blunt trauma with tracheoesophageal perforation is an unusual and potentially catastrophic event. The diagnosis of esophageal perforations following blunt trauma presents a diagnostic dilemma as it may be obscured by more obvious injuries. We hereby report a case of a child of road traffic accident who sustained external blunt trauma to cervical and upper thoracic region which resulted into a tracheoesophageal perforation