Laryngeal Trauma

Key Points

• The strict adherence to well-established diagnostic and management protocols has decreased both the mortality due to airway compromise and the poor outcomes due to delayed diagnosis.
• When indicated, early surgical intervention in appropriate cases with meticulous repair of the laryngeal framework yields the best functional results.

This chapter addresses external laryngeal trauma and does not deal with internal iatrogenic trauma that is induced by intubation, cricothyrotomy, tracheotomy, and laser. External traumas include blunt and penetrating injuries, inhalation injuries, and injuries from caustic ingestion. Various classifications have been proposed, according to site,[1],[2],[3] to the tissue injured,[4] or to the severity.[5] The different injuries are discussed according to the cause of the trauma and to the structure damaged.