Citation

Kitamura T, Otani K. Curr. Sports Med. Rep. 2023; 22(3): 100-104.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/JSR.0000000000001047

PMID

36866953

Abstract

Blunt neck trauma is an uncommon condition in sports yet life-threatening if left untreated; hence, early diagnosis and management is necessary once suspected. We report a collegiate rugby player tackled around the neck during intersquad scrimmage. He broke his cricoid and thyroid cartilage, resulting in cervical subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum and eventually, airway obstruction. Thus, he underwent cricothyroidotomy and emergency tracheotomy. After 20 d, the emphysema disappeared. However, dilation failure of the vocal cord remained, thereby requiring laryngeal reconstruction. In conclusion, blunt neck trauma can cause airway obstruction in various sports.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Male; *Sports; Rugby; *Airway Obstruction/diagnosis/etiology/surgery; *Neck Injuries/complications/diagnosis; *Wounds, Nonpenetrating/complications/diagnostic imaging