Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale
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Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital · Jan 1989
Review[Etiopathogenesis and biodynamics of closed laryngo-tracheal injuries].
The blunt laryngotracheal trauma, once quite a rare phenomenon, has become quite relevant today, particularly because of the great increase in automotive traffic. It was, therefore, felt knowledge of the etiopathogenesis and biodynamics of this form of trauma is important for proper diagnosis and treatment. After having noted that the literature in this regard is generally incomplete and fragmentary, the authors felt it worth compiling the various etiopathogenesis and biodynamic factors involved; characteristics of blunt laryngotracheal trauma. ⋯ In 85% of the cases cricoid cartilage involvement is associated with that of the tracheal cartilage. The authors assert that, due to a question of resistance, cricoid fracture traumas almost always involve the trachea while thyroid cartilage fractures act as a relief, letting off and absorbing the forces, thus preventing cricoid involvement. On the basis of these considerations the authors feel it fitting to classify the blunt laryngotracheal traumas into three groups according to topography: supraglottic laryngeal trauma with or without involvement of the glottis; subglottic laryngeal trauma, generally associated with the trachea and only rarely involving the glottic region; isolated trauma of the cervical trachea.