Tracheal injury
Background
- Usually occurs at junction of trachea and cricoid cartilage
- direct trauma to airway is rare due to protection by sternum and mandible
- Common causes:
- Motor vehicle accident: extended neck impacts on steering wheel or dashboard
- "clothes line injury", assaults/strangulation
- Penetrating trauma (usually stabbings or gunshot wounds)
- Associated with cervical spine injury, head injury, multisystem trauma
Clinical Features
- Respiratory distress
- Hoarseness, dysphonia, cough, stridor, dysphagia
- Subcutaneous emphysema
- Cervical ecchymosis
- Hemoptysis
- Tracheal deviation or abnormal laryngeal contour
Differential Diagnosis
Thoracic Trauma
- Airway/Pulmonary
- Cardiac/Vascular
- Musculoskeletal
- Other