Blunt posterior tracheal laceration and esophageal injury in a child.
Blunt force trauma to the neck can result in the unusual injury pattern of laceration of the posterior tracheal wall in combination with esophageal injury. We present the report of a 10-year-old child who had blunt cervical trauma because of a bicycle accident and subsequently presented with profound subcutaneous emphysema. This case was addressed with operative management with a good result. The essential management principles for this rare constellation of injuries include a high index of suspicion, early control of the airway, endoscopic and radiographic diagnosis, and use of a buttressing strap muscle flap in the event of operative management to prevent delayed complications, including leak and tracheoesophageal fistula.
Mukherjee
Kaushik
K
Monroe Carell Jr, Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tenn 37232, USA.
Isbell
James M
JM
Yang
Edmund
E
D001265:Athletic Injuries; D001642:Bicycling; D002648:Child; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery