Symposium on trauma in otolaryngology. IV. Management of injuries to the larynx and trachea

The past decade has witnessed an accelerated number of laryngeal and tracheal injuries. The present decade may see a rapid decline due to more safety devices on automobiles and a cessation of the military conflict. A format has been recognized and accepted for the management of these injuries by many who have been interested and contributed to this subject. Open repair, internal splinting with a soft stent fixed to the thyroid cartilage, and often a split‐thickness skin graft to cover the raw areas is the choice of most. In automobile accidents the type of injury usually falls into one of five categories: a. supraglottic tears and fractures; b. transglottic injuries; c. cricoid fractures; d. evulsion of the trachea from the cricoid; and e. lacerations or tears of the trachea. Laceration by knives and small caliber gun shot wounds usually requires a laryngofissure for exposure and repair of the defect. Schrapnel wounds and blunt missile injuries with loss of skin and cartilage should be repaired immediately with a transfer of bone or cartilage in a pedicle skin flap.