Blunt laryngotracheal trauma.

Four cases of acute laryngeal fracture that demonstrate the history and clinical findings characteristic of blunt laryngotracheal trauma are presented. Symptoms in these patients included shortness of breath, neck pain, dysphasia, dysphonia, and hemoptysis. Physical examination findings suggesting acute laryngeal injury included pain on palpation of neck, swelling or edema of the neck, subcutaneous emphysema, and loss of landmarks in the neck. All four patients were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit and had the diagnosis of laryngeal fracture confirmed at laryngoscopy. Airway obstruction is a potential complication in all patients sustaining blunt laryngotracheal trauma. Early diagnosis and management may lead to a good outcome, as with these four patients.