A rare case of cervical tracheal injury in Kendo match is reported. A 17 year old senior high school boy had sustained a shinai thrust injury to his throat during a Kendo match.
At admission, X-ray examination revealed apparent mediastinal emphysema. In the neck, chest and axilla there was marked subcutaneous emphysema. Although the trachea did not appear to be torn, there was linear coagulation at the first to third ring and the posterior wall on the mucous membrane of the trachea under bronchoscopic examination. Transnasal intubation was performed under local anesthesia. Hypoxcemia occurred three hours after intubation. Computed tomography yielded excellent information of emphysema.
