Five cases of external trauma to the larynx encouttered in our department during the last two years are reported, they are two cases of lacerations of the larynx in attempts of suiside, a case of contusion associated with subcutaneous rupture of the trachea due to a traffic accident, a case of contusion with fracture and dislocation of the laryngeal cartilage struck by a timber.
When the air way proved to be impinged upon, an emergency tracheotomy is to be performed and every endeavor to preserve the laryngeal function must be made.
It is pointed that a poor prognosis is frequently accompanied by cricoid injuries which are usually followed by perichondritis, necrosis of the cricoicl cartilage and stenosis of the larynx (malformation of granulation tissue).
In case injury involves the cricoid area, a lower tracheotmy is necessary and the affected cricoid area must be repaired at the earliest possible time.
