The Use of Free Skin Grafts for Post-Traumatic Cicatricial Stenosis of the Laryngopharynx

Abstract

The use of free skin grafts for reconstruction of the pharynx after laryngopharyngectomy for neoplastic disease is well documented.1,2,5,8-16However, the opportunity to use these grafts for benign post-traumatic and postinfectious cicatricial stenosis of the pharynx finds infrequent application. A review of the literature reveals very few recorded instances of this use.3,4,6,13 The mechanism producing post-traumatic stenosis must be extraordinary. Many of these patients probably die as a result of the initial injury and never reach the stage of stricture formation. We recently have had experience in managing one such case who lived to develop a stricture and merits recording. Report of Case The 8-year-old son of circus performers sustained an injury to his neck and pharynx when he was pulled by a rope about his neck for a distance of 300 ft. by a runaway horse. The injury included fracture of three cervical vertebrae without neurological sequelae