A Case with Thyroid Cartilage Fracture after Sneezing

Abstract

Non-traumatic laryngeal injuries are unusual occasions. In the medical literature we found only six reports of cases that had laryngeal injury after sneezing. We report a case of a 34-year-old man diagnosed with thyroid cartilage fracture after a strong sneeze. In physical examination, edema and hematoma were seen in the right vocal cord and the right band. Computed tomography scan revealed an anterior thyroid cartilage fracture without separation. Antibiotics and steroids were administered. This is a very rare entity and the seventh case reported in the literature. Ear Nose Throat specialist should be aware of this situation.

Keywords

• larynx
• thyroid cartilage
• fracture
• sneezing
• dysphonia