Bilateral arytenoid dislocation after an emergency tracheal intubation: A rare case report

Abstract

Bilateral arytenoid dislocation was first described in a case report by Sataloff et al. in 1999. To date, only 7 cases of bilateral arytenoid dislocation have been reported in the literature. The causes of bilateral arytenoid dislocation include intubation trauma, laryngeal mask airway insertion, and direct trauma. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical reduction are essential for a better prognosis for arytenoid dislocation. We present a rare case of bilateral arytenoid dislocation resulting from emergency tracheal intubation following pesticide ingestion. The dislocation was diagnosed early and reduced under local anesthesia, successfully restoring normal voice function. Anesthesiologists and otolaryngologists should take care to avoid causing laryngeal trauma, particularly during emergency tracheal intubation in patients with a low BMI. Simultaneous closed reduction of both cricoarytenoid joints may be a recommended method for treating bilateral arytenoid dislocation.

Keywords

• Bilateral arytenoid dislocation
• high resolution CT examination of larynx
• closed reduction
• emergency tracheal intubation
• voice analysis