Journal List > J Korean Soc Radiol > v.63(4) > 1086829

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Lee, Hwang, Kim, Seo, Cho, and Kim: Isolated Multiple Fragmented Cricoid Fracture Associated with External Blunt Neck Trauma: A Case Report
Head and Neck Radiology
Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology 2010; 63(4): 319-321.

Published online: 31 October 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2010.63.4.319

Isolated Multiple Fragmented Cricoid Fracture Associated with External Blunt Neck Trauma: A Case Report

Byung Hoon Lee, M.D., Yoon Joon Hwang, M.D., Yong Hoon Kim, M.D., Jung Wook Seo, M.D., Hyeon Je Cho, M.D., Yeon Soo Kim, M.D.2

1Department of Radiology, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University School of Medicine, Korea.

2Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University School of Medicine, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Byung Hoon Lee, M.D., Department of Radiology, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University School of Medicine, 2240, Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 411-706, Korea. Tel. 82-31-910-7694, Fax. 82-31-910-7369, hoonbeer@hanmail.net

Received 21 November 2009       Accepted 7 July 2010

Copyright © 2010 The Korean Society of Radiology

Abstract

Blunt laryngeal trauma is a relatively uncommon but possibly life-threatening injury. An isolated cricoid fracture associated with blunt trauma is rare. We report a case of an isolated multiple fragmented cricoid cartilage fracture that developed in a 20-year-old man after a blunt neck trauma that occurred during a baseball game and was diagnosed by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Keywords: Larynx, Neck, Injuries, Fracture, Cartilage, Tomography, X-ray Computed

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

A 20-year-old man with blunt neck trauma.

A. Lateral radiograph of the neck obtained at admission shows neck subcutaneous emphysema and retropharyngeal air bubbles, suggesting air leak from the laryngeal structure. No evidence of fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine is seen.
B. Axial CT reveals fractures of the bilateral anterior arch and posterior wall of the cricoid cartilage. There is paratracheal and retropharyngeal air with subglottic mucosal swelling. Mucosal penetration is suggested. The white arrows indicate three fracture lines of the cricoid cartilage.
C. Axial CT shows normal configuration without evidence of fracture of thyroid cartilage.
D. Follow up CT 13 days after neck exploration demonstrates that the subglottic edema and paratracheal and retropharyngeal air had improved.D. Follow up CT 13 days after neck exploration demonstrates that the subglottic edema and paratracheal and retropharyngeal air had improved.
jksr-63-319-g001

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