Prevalence and management of laryngotracheal trauma in India

Laryngotracheal trauma is a rare but life-threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis and management to prevent airway compromise and long-term functional deficits. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the etiology, clinical presentation, management and outcomes of laryngotracheal injuries in 15 patients aged 15-60 years treated between 2021 and 2023 at a tertiary care center. Injury severity was graded using the Schaefer system and all patients underwent fibreoptic endoscopy and contrast-enhanced CT, with functional outcomes assessed using the Dysphonia Severity Index and New Zealand Secretion Scale. Most patients were male, with cut-throat injury and road traffic accidents as common causes and nearly half required emergency tracheostomy with successful decannulation. Early assessment and management resulted in favorable airway, phonatory and swallowing outcomes, highlighting the importance of fibreoptic endoscopy in guiding clinical decisions.