Cadaveric position of unilateral vocal cord: a case of cricoid fracture with ipsilateral arytenoid dislocation.
We report a case of cricoid cartilage fracture with unilateral arytenoid dislocation following a motorcycle accident. This 25 year old male sustained blunt injury to the head, face and neck. He presented late to the hospital with one week history of dysphonia. Laryngoscopy revealed cadaveric position of the non-functioning left vocal cord. CT and MRI showed laterally displaced left vocal cord. Displaced fractures were noted in the cricoid at the junction of lamina with the anterior arch on the left side and at the right side of the anterior arch, along with dislocated left arytenoid resulting in ipsilateral vocal cord palsy. Medialization thyroplasty was performed to improve his phonation. Laryngeal trauma warrants close monitoring because of the risk of airway compromise. Radiologists play a crucial role in early diagnosis and should always have high index of suspicion. Recognition of laryngeal injury is important for initial resuscitation as well as for long term airway and vocal function.
Department of Radiology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. drgnirmal@yahoo.co.in
Nirmalkumar
N
Gopalakrishnan
Kalaichezhian
K
Mariappan
Venkatraman
V
Indiran
Prabakaran
P
Maduraimuthu
Chandrasekhar
C
Varadarajan
D000328:Adult; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications; D011859:Radiography; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*