Which signs are most indicative of a fractured larynx or trachea?

Which signs are most indicative of a fractured larynx or trachea?

• A. Coughing up blood and fever
• B. Numbness in fingertips
• C. Obvious signs of injury, edema, hoarseness, stridor, subcutaneous emphysema
• D. Joint pain in the knee

Answer: (C)

Fractures of the larynx or trachea disrupt the airway after blunt neck trauma, so the most informative signs are those that reflect airway injury. Obvious neck injury with edema plus hoarseness shows damage to the laryngeal/vocal structures; stridor indicates partial airway obstruction from swelling or injury; and subcutaneous emphysema signals air leaking from the airway into soft tissues. Together, these findings point to an airway fracture and require immediate airway assessment and management. Coughing up blood and fever, numbness in fingertips, or knee joint pain don’t specifically indicate laryngeal or tracheal fracture, so they’re not the best indicators in this context.

Fractures of the larynx or trachea disrupt the airway after blunt neck trauma, so the most informative signs are those that reflect airway injury. Obvious neck injury with edema plus hoarseness shows damage to the laryngeal/vocal structures; stridor indicates partial airway obstruction from swelling or injury; and subcutaneous emphysema signals air leaking from the airway into soft tissues. Together, these findings point to an airway fracture and require immediate airway assessment and management. Coughing up blood and fever, numbness in fingertips, or knee joint pain don’t specifically indicate laryngeal or tracheal fracture, so they’re not the best indicators in this context.