Vocal Cord Wounds

The vocal cords guard access to the respiratory tract, and are responsible for phonation. Wounds to the vocal cords are thus serious in terms of immediate and long-term consequences, and require careful and adequate treatment to preserve life and to maintain function.

Causes of vocal cord injury

Penetrating neck injury is responsible for up to 70% of laryngeal injuries, and may be due to knifing, or gunshot wounds. The latter may cause vocal cord disruption either by penetration or by the blast wave.

Blunt neck injury is also responsible for many injuries to the vocal cords. Of the blunt neck injuries, 85% of laryngeal injuries are due to motor vehicle accidents. Other causes include compression of the larynx between a foreign object such as a clothesline, steering wheel or dashboard, and the anterior aspect of the cervical spine. Crushing and strangulation injuries can also result in indirect injury to the vocal cords.

Symptoms

Symptoms of trauma to the vocal cords include:

• hoarseness
• dyspnea or difficulty in breathing
• dysphonia or difficulty in speech
• hemoptysis or bringing up blood in sputum
• tenderness over the front of the neck
• subcutaneous emphysema
• inability to make out the normal structure of the larynx on external palpation and imaging

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis of vocal cord trauma is made on the basis of an adequate history with questions directed at eliciting signs and symptoms of this condition, with imaging techniques such as plain radiographs, CT scanning and endoscopic visualization of the larynx. CT imaging is often helpful in differentiating injuries which need immediate treatment by surgical closure, from those which may be observed, such as minor lacerations of the laryngeal mucosa.

Successful treatment depends upon early diagnosis, and managing the airway injury in time. Restoration and maintenance of respiratory airflow in case of obstruction usually requires tracheotomy under local anesthesia.

Intubation and cricothyrotomy are considered hazardous. Direct laryngoscopy is essential to visualize the laryngeal structures and soft tissues, while esophagoscopy will help evaluate the pharynx and esophagus. Associated skeletal laryngeal injuries must be set. Where the vocal cords are massively injured, or there is a disruption of the anterior commissure, endolaryngeal stenting is required.

Pediatric vocal cord injuries are more likely to endanger life because of the smaller space available for airflow in children. Most cases require tracheotomy.

References

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18296939
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23804493
• http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/Grnds/Laryng-trauma-070328/laryng-trauma-slides-070328.pdf
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423852/

Further Reading

• All Vocal Cords Content
• What are Vocal Cords?
• Vocal Cord / Fold Development
• Vocal Cord Surgery
• Vocal Cord Lesion Treatment

Written by

Dr. Liji Thomas

Dr. Liji Thomas is an OB-GYN, who graduated from the Government Medical College, University of Calicut, Kerala, in 2001. Liji practiced as a full-time consultant in obstetrics/gynecology in a private hospital for a few years following her graduation. She has counseled hundreds of patients facing issues from pregnancy-related problems and infertility, and has been in charge of over 2,000 deliveries, striving always to achieve a normal delivery rather than operative.