Clinical course of acute laryngeal trauma and associated effects on phonation

Abstract

We report the clinical course of blunt laryngeal trauma in three young patients. All three patients underwent several phoniatric examinations as well as indirect microlaryngoscopy and microstroboscopy. The follow-up period ranged from three to eight months. In the first case, there was isolated haemorrhage of the left vocal fold; in the second, dislocation of the arytenoid cartilage with formation of an adhesion in the area of the anterior commissure; and, in the third, non-dislocated fracture of the thyroid cartilage with development of haematoma in the right hemilarynx and transient vocal fold paralysis. One patient required surgical treatment; however, repositioning of the arytenoid cartilage, attempted seven weeks following the injury, proved unsuccessful.In conclusion, all three patients showed significant limitation of vocal fold vibration many months after trauma which was unrelated to the extent of resulting tissue damage. In all three cases, patients developed secondary posttraumatic functional dysphonia requiring treatment.

Arytenoid dislocation: An Analysis of the contemporary literature

“…Of these, nine articles were excluded based on lack of relevant content or were not applicable to the current review. Case reports accounted for 21 patients in 19 articles (Table I), with two articles reporting an additional case 2, 3, 9–25. Case series (Table II) accounted for five articles that represented 82 patients 1, 4, 5, 26, 27.…”

“…However, many authors rely on improvements in voice quality and symptoms, rather than correct arytenoid position, as the basis for successful therapy 3, 10, 11, 14, 18, 22. Only 37% of case reports describe the performance of posttreatment endoscopy2, 15, 16, 19, 21, 24 or indirect laryngoscopy 9. Furthermore, of these cases, the majority commented only on vocal fold mobility and not on arytenoid position.…”

Les traumatismes externes du larynx

“…En effet les traumatismes larygotrachéales peuvent se compliquer de sténoses laryngées et de dysphonie dans 40% des cas (19). La rééducation orthophonique a pour but d'optimiser les résultats fonctionnels et ne doit pas être négligée (20).…”

Investigating Blunt Force Trauma to the Larynx: The Role of Inferior-Superior Vocal Fold Displacement on Phonation

“…Patients are often, but not always, recommended to see a speech pathologist as part of the recovery process. While post-surgical speech therapy is important because it reduces the risk of subsequent phonotrauma arising from vocal compensation Brosch & Johannsen (1999), it cannot correct underlying structural problems. For this reason, it is necessary to determine how morphological changes in the VFs, arising from blunt force trauma, are likely to influence phonation.…”