MATERIAL & METHODS
In September 2017, a 28-year-old male international rugby player
sustained direct trauma to the left side of his neck during an English
Premiership match (Figure 1 and see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TodNq3aGFzk).
He was immediately apnoeic for a few seconds, rapidly developing
respiratory compromise. He was given basic airway support with
supplementary oxygen and transferred to hospital.
Once stabilised, computer tomography (CT) imaging revealed a fracture of
the posterior cricoid cartilage into the left arytenoid (Figure 2).
Direct laryngoscopic revealed oedema and local haemorrhage (Figure 3A).
Using the Becker (modified Schaefer) classification of laryngeal trauma,
the injury was graded as a group 2(2). The fracture was managed
conservatively with intravenous steroids and clinical surveillance in a
high dependency unit, mandating a week-long stay in hospital.