Laryngeal trauma caused by a dog bite：A case report

Abstract

We present a case of a voice disorder resulting from laryngeal injury following a dog bite. The patient, a man in his 30s, initially sought medical attention because of expiratory leakage from a wound sustained on the neck during a dog attack. After a tracheotomy was performed by his primary physician, who diagnosed the patient with subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema resulting from laryngeal injury, he was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of his voice impairment. Although the patient did not experience hoarseness during regular speech, he experienced difficulties with high-pitched speech. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a fracture on the left side of the thyroid cartilage. Subsequently, open reduction and internal fixation were performed, followed by postoperative voice therapy. This case underscores the importance of assessing not only the patient's speaking ability, but also any deviations from their typical voice, including high-pitched speech, when determining the appropriate surgical intervention for laryngeal injuries. We advocate proactive measures such as open reduction and internal fixation combined with postoperative voice therapy in such cases.