Cricoid and Thyroid Cartilage Fracture, Cricothyroid Joint Dislocation, Pseudofracture Appearance of the Hyoid Bone: CT, MRI and Laryngoscopic Findings

Abstract

Laryngeal trauma is extremely rare and usually occurs as a result of blunt trauma. The most common cause of the blunt laryngeal trauma is a motor vehicle accident but it can also occur as a result of relatively minor insults to the anterior neck that cause posterior compression of the larynx against the spine. Injury to the larynx may range from simple mucosal tears to laryngeal cartilage fracture and dislocation. It may be associated with hyoid fractures, epiglottic injury, cervical spine fractures and esophageal or vascular injuries. As it may lead to life-threatening airway obstruction, rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment. We report computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serial endoscopic findings of a patient with cricoid and thyroid cartilage fracture and cricothyroid joint dislocation after blunt neck trauma. Case Report