title: Bilateral haemorrhagic vocal cords with supraglottic bruising following blunt laryngeal trauma.
abstract: Isolated vocal cord haemorrhage secondary to blunt neck trauma is rare. It can lead to compromised airway in a patient with otherwise minimal clinical findings. The authors report a patient with traumatic haemorrhage in the supraglottis and vocal cords. A 24 years old Caucasian male presented with acute hoarseness, dysphagia, and a tender anterior neck swelling 3 hours after he was punched in his neck. There was no stridor or surgical emphysema. Flexible pharyngolaryngoscopy revealed no endolaryngeal mucosal tear but evidence of bleeding into his true vocal cords. The patient was successfully treated with dexamethasone, analgesia and voice rest. The patient refused to stay in hospital for overnight airway monitoring. The authors believe that all patients presenting with a blunt neck trauma should undergo laryngoscopy for assessment and monitoring of the airway.
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, University of Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Siew
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Vamsidhar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vallamkondu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakeel
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D000698:Analgesia; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D061224:Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone