Cricotracheal separation: do not get fooled by what you see.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal involvement in neck trauma is quite considerable. The presence of a cricotracheal separation type of injury can be easily missed and overlooked, especially if the neck does not show any external signs. Blunt trauma to the neck affects many anatomical structures inside the intact-looking neck that threatens the victim's life. At exploration, the surgeon must be aware of the full impact of the injury on different neck structures. AIM OF WORK Raise the attention on the proper management of laryngeal trauma victims. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This is a retrospective study carried out on 23 patients who suffered from cricotracheal separation as a result of laryngeal trauma. RESULTS: Cricotracheal separation is a frequent finding in an innocent-looking neck. The mechanism of the trauma itself is an excellent clue to suspect its presence. CONCLUSION: This type of laryngeal injury must be kept in mind and must be suspected. Some recommendations and guidelines are presented on the proper handling of such patients.