[Posttraumatic tracheal stenosis after complex fracture of the upper cervical spine: a rare complication]

Combined injuries of the upper cervical spine are rare and can lead to life-threatening positional changes of the respiratory tract. Hence, it is very important to recognize tracheal and soft tissue injuries and to treat these adequately. We report on the clinical course and outcome of a case with a delayed high-grade tracheal stenosis after cervical spine injury, which could only be treated by emergency tracheotomy and partial transverse trachea resection.The 25-year-old female suffered a complex dislocated upper cervical spine fracture with a Jefferson fracture, an odontoid fracture and a dislocated C6/7 luxation fracture after a motor vehicle accident. Immediately after trauma inspiratory stridor was reported. Postoperatively, the tracheal stenosis increased and the histological examination of tissue collected during emergency bronchoscopy showed granulation tissue.Even if fractures of cervical spine injuries are treated successfully, soft tissue and tracheal injuries cannot be precluded. Therefore, it is most important that such patients are followed-up closely to classify the problem and to determine the ideal time for surgical treatment of tracheal injuries and stenoses.