Vol.102 No.7 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 102 No. 7 July 2009
Two Cases of Closed Injury of the Larynx by the Blunt Trauma
Nami Nishikawa, Kengo Hashimoto, Yusuke Kojima and Toshihiko Muto
(Takarazuka Municipal Hospital)
Naoki Saka and Koichi Shimano
(Hyogo College of Medicine)
The first case was a 73-year-old man complaing of neck swelling, hoarseness, and bloody sputum following a forceful blow to the anterior neck region by a pipe. Layngoscopy showed that the arytenoid was swollen and reddish; therefore, his vocal cords could not be observed. Computed tomograpy showed severe pneumoderma around the hyoid bone. Tracheotomy was urgently performed to open the air way and prevent pneumoderma. He was also hospitalized and treated with antibiotics. Thereafter, findings on laryngoscopy improved 23 days later.
The second case was a 71-year-old man who accidentally hit the right side of the anterior neck against the corner of a chair. He complained of hoarseness and swallowing pain during a consultation with a local physician the next day. Laryngoscopy showed that the right vocal cord had developed a hematoma. As the air way was sufficiently conserved, thus he was observed without medication or hospitalization. Thereafter, his complaints subsided and findings on laryngoscopy improved 23 days later.
Key words :closed injury of the larynx, tracheotomy