[Traumatic thyroid rupture: case report and review of the literature]

Traumatic rupture of the thyroid gland is rare. A common approach does not exist. Surgical and nonsurgical management have been advocated.

This work summarizes the publications in PubMed including an own case. This study will analyse the accident mechanism, the underlying thyroid pathologies, possible pathogenetic mechanisms of airway obstruction and the therapeutic options. A present classification is revised in order to develop it into a treatment proposal.

A total of 34 case reports were analysed. The first half had to be performed a surgery on, the other half was observed without surgical treatment. None of the patients died of his injury. 59% of the patients, that had to be performed a surgery on had thyroid pathology before rupture. 50% of all patients had a road accident as a cause for the rupture.

The revised classification and treatment proposal developed here presents a clinically-viable approach.