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Symposium on trauma in otolaryngology. IV. Management of injuries to the larynx and trachea.
Author(s) -
Harris Herbert H.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-197210000-00014
Subject(s) - medicine , cricoid cartilage , surgery , thyroid cartilage , larynx , soft tissue , blunt
The past decade has witnessed an accelerated number of laryngeal and tracheal injuries. The present decade may see a rapid decline due to more safety devices on automobiles and a cessation of the military conflict. A format has been recognized and accepted for the management of these injuries by many who have been interested and contributed to this subject. Open repair, internal splinting with a soft stent fixed to the thyroid cartilage, and often a split‐thickness skin graft to cover the raw areas is the choice of most. In automobile accidents the type of injury usually falls into one of five categories: a. supraglottic tears and fractures; b. transglottic injuries; c. cricoid fractures; d. evulsion of the trachea from the cricoid; and e. lacerations or tears of the trachea. Laceration by knives and small caliber gun shot wounds usually requires a laryngofissure for exposure and repair of the defect. Schrapnel wounds and blunt missile injuries with loss of skin and cartilage should be repaired immediately with a transfer of bone or cartilage in a pedicle skin flap.