LARYNGEAL TRAUMA DUE TO HANGING

Abstract

A case of trauma to the larynx and hyoid bone in a 44-year-old male who made an unsucessful attempt to commit suicide by hanging himself is reported. The patient complained of pain in the pharynx particularly in swallowing. Bloody sputum was seen for two days after the injury. Hoarseness and aspiration of liquids persisted for one month. Examination one month after the injury revealed the marks of hanging in a part of the neck, edematously swollen right arythenoid region, swelling and redness of the right false cord, scars on the laryngeal aspect of the epiglottis and bony protrusions in the posterior wall of the hypopharynx which were proved to be the fractured conua of the thyroid cartilage. Right conu of the hyoid bone was also fractured. Conservative treatment alleviated the above symptoms in three months.