Analysis of clinical feature and management of laryngeal fracture: recent 22 case review

Systematic Review of Laryngeal Fractures and Trends in Operative Management

Study Design

Systematic review of the literature.

Objective

The goal of this study is to review the current literature on the trends in management of laryngeal fractures following trauma.

Methods

Independent searches of the PubMed and MEDLINE databases were performed. Articles from the period of 1963 to 2020 were collected. All studies which described laryngeal fractures using the Boolean method and relevant search term combinations, including "Laryngeal", "Fracture", "Operative", and "Management" were collected.

Results

A total of 588 relevant unique articles were identified for analysis. Of these, 24 articles were deemed appropriate for inclusion in the literature review. Due to variability in study design and outcome measures, formal synthesis of data in the form of a meta-analysis was not possible.

Conclusions

Laryngeal fractures are rare traumatic injuries that require early identification and evaluation with complex management options. This comprehensive review aims to highlight the breadth of the topic with regard to presentation and clinical management. Though there remains no clear best practice for laryngeal fracture management, we review trends in clinical practice throughout the literature.

Blunt and Penetrating Airway Trauma

Airway injury, be that penetrating or blunt, is a high-stakes high-stress management challenge for any airway manager and their team. Penetrating and blunt airway injury vary in injury patterns requiring prepracticed skills and protocols coordinating care between specialties. Variables including patient cooperation, coexisting injuries, cardiorespiratory stability, care location (remote vs tertiary care center), and anticipated course of airway injury (eg, oxygenating well and comfortable vs increasing subcutaneous emphysema) all play a role in determining airway if and when airway management is required. Direct airway trauma is relatively infrequent, but its presence should be accompanied by in-person or virtual otolaryngology support.

Cricohyoidoepiglottopexy in an emergency scenario: Evaluation and management of a severe laryngeal trauma

We describe the clinical evaluation and the management of a severe laryngeal trauma in a suicidal patient. We aim to demonstrate how the cricohyoidoepiglottopexy, which is a surgical technique mainly performed for oncological purposes, can be successfully used in this emergency setting.

Laryngeal Trauma, Its Types, and Management

Laryngotracheal wounds are rare; however, they have a significant mortality rate. These wounds can be blunt or penetrating. Usually, the larynx is protected from blunt trauma by the sternum and jaw. A "clothesline" injury happens when the exposed neck is struck by a hard object, such as a wall wire or tree branch, or when an attack is intended to damage the larynx. Additionally, injuries may occur when the neck is stressed due to damage, such as in a rear-end accident that causes a whiplash-like injury or when the larynx is intentionally targeted for harm. Penetrating neck trauma may result in injury to the larynx. Assume a patient has suffered a penetrating or severe neck injury. It is usually evident from their medical history or a quick trauma evaluation in that case. However, it is recommended to be cautious for anterior neck injuries in general and to have a low threshold for establishing a surgical airway. The priority is securing an airway when a patient with a laryngeal injury arrives in the emergency room. The operating surgeon may request any flexible laryngoscopy, computed tomography (CT), esophagram, and chest X-ray for additional examination, depending on the nature of the damage and the patient's health. After the examination, the initial step in treating laryngeal injuries should be to locate and secure the airway. According to the evaluation and management based on the Schaefer classification system for laryngeal injury, the patient is treated based on whether the patient has impending airway obstruction or a stable airway. Medical management or observation and surgical management depend on the site and severity of the injury, patient condition, and type of injury. There are several complications related to laryngotracheal trauma, which can be minor or even fatal. Following successful treatment, postoperative and rehabilitative care, vocal rest, speech therapy, and swallowing therapy may be necessary.

Total Laryngectomy Following Severe Laryngeal Trauma: A Case of Surgical Dilemma

External laryngeal trauma is a rather rare occurrence, and comprises a varying severity of injuries. Every laryngeal injury is unique and the management can be invariably complex. For the most severe forms of external laryngeal trauma, reparative procedures and laryngeal stenting (after control of the airway) are considered standard treatment. We present a case of a complex laryngeal trauma with extensive loss of tracheal cartilage and soft tissues which was treated with total laryngectomy.

Clinical, Radiologic, and Endolaryngeal Findings in Laryngeal Fractures: A 15-Year Case Series

Objective

Laryngeal fractures are rare injuries; recent data describing these injuries and associated examination findings are limited. This study aims to describe injury etiology and outcomes associated with laryngeal fractures.

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

Academic tertiary center.

Methods

Patients with laryngeal fractures from 2005 to 2020 were identified in a retrospective chart review. Patient demographics, injury mechanisms, management, and voice outcomes were examined. Fracture type, radiologic, and endolaryngeal examination findings were analyzed for associations between fracture etiology and examination characteristics.

Results

Laryngeal fractures most commonly occurred at the thyroid cartilage. Fractures were most commonly due to sport-related injuries. Mechanism of injury was not associated with specific radiologic or endolaryngeal findings. Mechanism of injury was additionally not significantly associated with the need for intubation, surgical intervention, or tracheotomy. Fracture location was significantly associated with intubation requirement (P = .015), with 40% of patients with concomitant thyroid and cricoid fractures requiring intubation. Mechanism of injury significantly correlated with dysphonia at follow-up (P = .033). Mechanism of injury, fracture location, and surgical management were not associated with increased vocal fold injury or dysphonia.

Conclusion

There are no significant correlations between injury mechanism and fracture location, characteristics, radiologic findings, or endolaryngeal findings. These features emphasize the importance of a thorough and comprehensive laryngeal examination.

Diagnosis, management and treatment of neck trauma

Trauma injuries to the neck account for 5-10% of all trauma injuries and carry a high rate of morbidity and mortality, as several vital structures can be damaged. Currently, there are several treatment approaches based on initial management by zones, initial management not based on zones and conservative management of selected patients. The objective of this systematic review is to describe the management of neck trauma.

Common Findings in Blunt Thyroid Fracture

Although blunt neck trauma is known to be rare, occurring in approximately 5% of all neck traumas, undiagnosed cases may have a devastating outcome. Physicians need to fully understand the mechanism of the injury and the external laryngeal trauma signs. A physician's precise diagnosis and proper management are necessary to avoid long-term complications or death. Although blunt laryngeal injuries are uncommon, prompt recognition of the subtle signs is crucial to avoid the catastrophic complications associated with such injuries. This case report aims to demonstrate the symptoms and signs of laryngeal injury in a young healthy male following a road traffic accident.

Comminuted Laryngeal Fracture Following Blunt Trauma: A Need for Strict Legislation on Roads!

Laryngeal fracture is a rare condition with potential life-long implications related to airway patency, voice quality, and swallowing. Rarity of the condition leads to lack of consensus on the most suitable way to manage this injury. The mode of injury can be prevented by strict legislation on the roads. We report a case of a 28-year-old Indian male who sustained a comminuted displaced fracture of the thyroid cartilage with disruption of anterior commissure due to blunt trauma caused by the metallic side rod of a ladder projecting from the rear of a vehicle in front of the bike on which he was riding. He presented with breathing difficulty, change in voice, surgical emphysema, and pneumomediastinum, but without any skin changes over the neck. His airway could be restored due to early tracheostomy and open reduction with internal fixation with sutures along with laryngeal stenting. He has no significant swallowing or breathing problem and reasonably good voice 6 months after surgery. This case highlights the need for strict legislation on roads in India and the importance of high level of suspicion for laryngeal fracture in acute trauma patient. Early identification and timely internal fixation not only restore the airway but also improve long-term voice and airway outcomes.

Blunt laryngeal trauma secondary to sporting injuries

BACKGROUND

Laryngeal injury after blunt trauma is uncommon, but can cause catastrophic airway obstruction and significant morbidity in voice and airway function. This paper aims to discuss a case series of sports-related blunt laryngeal trauma patients and describe the results of a thorough literature review.

METHOD

Retrospective case-based analysis of laryngeal trauma referrals over six years to a tertiary laryngology centre.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were identified; 13 (46 per cent) sustained sports-related trauma. Most were young males, presenting with dysphonia, some with airway compromise (62 per cent). Nine patients were diagnosed with a laryngeal fracture. Four patients were managed conservatively and nine underwent surgery. Post-treatment, the majority of patients achieved good voice outcomes (83 per cent) and all had normal airway function.

CONCLUSION

Sports-related neck trauma can cause significant injury to the laryngeal framework and endolaryngeal soft tissues, and most cases require surgical intervention. Clinical presentation may be subtle; a systematic approach along with a high index of suspicion is essential, as early diagnosis and treatment have been reported to improve airway and voice outcome.

An Algorithmic Approach to Triaging Facial Trauma on the Sidelines

On-the-field evaluation of facial trauma requires a focused initial assessment of the patient's airway and breathing with a knowledge of the critical associated injuries. The initial triage in facial trauma involves assessing and protecting the athlete's airway, breathing, and cervical spine. The algorithm then requires a repeat evaluation for subtle causes of airway obstruction and aspiration risks. Final steps include control of hemorrhage, recognition of neurologic and ophthalmologic disability, and complete exposure of the athlete to examine for other associated injury. The ABC repeat ABCDE mnemonic allows providers to avoid missing critical injuries that require immediate intervention.

Laryngeal Fracture after Blunt Cervical Trauma in Motorcycle Accident and Its Management

Laryngeal fracture is a rare traumatic injury, potentially fatal, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 30,000 patients admitted to severe trauma centers. Because of the rarity of this injury, physician may be not aware of its existence, leading to a late diagnosis of this entity. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman admitted to the emergency room after a motorcycle accident with cervical trauma. The patient presented with dysphonia, hemoptysis, cervical subcutaneous emphysema, and increasing respiratory distress that led to the intubation of the patient. CT-scan demonstrated displaced fracture of the cricoid and thyroid cartilage. The patient was submitted to tracheostomy and the fracture was surgically repaired. Tracheostomy was removed in third postoperative month. The patient presented a good recovery, reporting only hoarseness but without swallowing or breathing problems at 6-month follow-up.

Early recognition and management of laryngeal fracture: a case report

BACKGROUND

Laryngeal fracture is a rare condition that can lead to significant problems with airway patency, voice production, and swallowing. Conflict in the literature exists regarding the most suitable way to manage this injury.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 29-year-old Caucasian man who sustained a displaced fracture of the thyroid cartilage due to blunt trauma. He reported no swallowing, breathing, or voice problems after 1 year, and his recovery can be attributed to the early recognition and proper management of his condition.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates the importance of ensuring a high level of suspicion for laryngeal fracture in the acute trauma patient. Early identification of this injury allows early intervention that not only protects the airway but also improves long-term voice and airway outcomes.

Autologous platelet-poor plasma gel for injection laryngoplasty

PURPOSE

To overcome the potential disadvantages of the use of foreign materials and autologous fat or collagen, we introduce here an autologous plasma gel for injection laryngoplasty. The purpose of this study was to present a new injection material, a plasma gel, and to discuss its clinical effectiveness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2 mL of blood, the platelet poor serum layer was collected and heated at 100°C for 12 min to form a plasma gel. The plasma gel was then injected into a targeted site; the safety and efficacy thereof were evaluated in 30 rats. We also conducted a phase I/II clinical study of plasma gel injection laryngoplasty in 11 unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients.

RESULTS

The plasma gel was semi-solid and an easily injectable material. Of note, plasma gel maintains the same consistency for up to 1 year in a sealed bottle. However, exposure to room air causes the plasma gel to disappear within 1 month. In our animal study, the autologous plasma gel remained in situ for 6 months in animals with minimal inflammation. Clinical study showed that vocal cord palsy was well compensated for with the plasma gel in all patients at two months after injection with no significant complications. Jitter, shimmer, maximum, maximum phonation time (MPT) and mean voice handicap index (VHI) also improved significantly after plasma gel injection. However, because the injected plasma gel was gradually absorbed, 6 patients needed another injection, while the gel remained in place in 2 patients.

CONCLUSION

Injection laryngoplasty with autologous plasma gel may be a useful and safe treatment option for temporary vocal cord palsy.

Near-complete supraglottic transection of the larynx after a motorbike accident

Severe laryngeal trauma is rare in the civilian environment and requires appropriate and timely surgical intervention. We report a case from Sydney, Australia, which was managed with open reduction and internal fixation of the larynx with resorbable plates. The use of resorbable plates for operative fixation of the larynx has rarely been reported in literature but may be a viable alternative.