Citation

Patel N, Lloyd SK, Dhillon RS. CME Bulletin Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2002; 6(1): 27-29.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicidal hanging is one cause of laryngeal trauma. The severity of injury can range from laryngeal fractures to compression injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerves. We report the case of a 62-year-old man who attempted suicide by hanging and developed a transient bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Computed tomography confirmed there was no disruption of the laryngeal framework. His airway remained stable and he was therefore treated conservatively. After three months of follow up his vocal cord movements returned to normal suggesting a neuropraxic insult. The local anatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is discussed and the possible sites of compression injury suggested.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; airway dynamics; anorexia; article; artificial ventilation; case report; computer assisted tomography; conservative treatment; cyanosis; depression; disease severity; endotracheal intubation; follow up; hanging; Hanging; human; insomnia; Larynx; larynx injury; male; Neck injuries; nerve compression; Recurrent laryngeal nerve; recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy; resuscitation; sciatic neuropathy; spine fusion; suicide attempt; vocal cord paralysis; Vocal cord paralysis