Thoracic esophageal and tracheal injury following blunt trauma

A 20-year-old man injured in a motor vehicular accident sustained a nonpenetrating double blowout injury of the upper thoracic esophagus. A simultaneous membraneous rupture of the trachea occurred. Treatment was by operative primary closure. A collective review of blunt upper thoracic esophageal perforations reveals a nearly uniform occurrence of associated tracheal injury.