gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: Acute laryngeal external trauma is a rare and potentially lethal injury. It may lead to airway obstruction and voice distortion. The protection of the airway during swallowing may fail.

Motor vehicle collisions are by fare the most common cause of trauma. The incidence is estimated to be approximately from 1 per 137000 up to 1 to 5000 emergency room visits. On one hand the larynx is anatomically exposed due its frontal situation. On the other hand it is protected by the mandible, the sternum and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The elastic properties of the cartilage allows some degree of deformity.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing open laryngeal repair of fractures from 2000 to 2007 was performed. Postoperative airway, voice, deglutition and complications were assessed.

Results: In two patients we used a modified adaptation plate technique. In one patient a displaced cartilage fracture was reapproximated with nonabsorbable suture. In this case mucosal lacerations have been closed primarily. We did not note any complications postoperatively. In one case a traumatic lesion of the recurrent nerve was well compensated. Clinical long term outcomes on airway, voice and deglutition were very well.

Conclusion: Based on our experience, repair of the larynx using adaptation plates, provides adequate, safe and stable restauration of laryngeal function.