Early management of laryngeal injuries

The results of acute laryngeal trauma sustained by 44 patients are reported. Three major aetiological groups are identified: road traffic accidents, blunt injury and penetrating injury. Road traffic accidents appear to produce severe injury, but the long-term follow-up results are similar to those laryngeal injuries which were not recognized initially and who developed a chronic stenosis. The blunt injury group sustained less forceful trauma; 14 of the 18 were treated conservatively and all patients had a good result. The majority of the penetrating injury group developed good breathing and a good voice following operation. Some of the technical expertise normally used to treat chronic laryngeal stenosis has been included in this series to good effect.