Blunt and penetrating laryngeal trauma: a 13-year review

A 13-year retrospective review of 53 patients with laryngeal trauma seen between 1965 and 1975 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas affiliated hospitals is presented. Patient management fell into four groups: observation following direct laryngoscopic examination or observation alone (7 patients), direct laryngoscopic examination and tracheostomy (5 patients), open reduction of fractures without stenting (14 patients), and open reduction of fractures with stenting (27 patients). These cases were analyzed according to initial signs and symptoms, duration between time of injury and surgery as pertains to success of management, indications for open reduction of laryngeal fractures, and associated injuries.