hyoid bone fracture

QUICK OVERVIEW:
--rare, due to protected location of the larynx (mandible is superior and anterior and spine is posterior)

--Hyoid bone fractures from blunt trauma other than strangulation = 0.002%

--Respiratory distress can progress rapidly: hematoma formation and soft tissue swelling leads to airway compromise and hypoxia

--Laryngeal injuries occur more commonly in males (77% vs 33%)

--Women have slimmer longer necks so they are more prone to hyoid bone fractures

--symptoms: horseness, neck pain, dyspnea, dysphonia, aphonia, dysphasia, odynophonia/phagia, stridor (inspiratory), hemoptysis, subcutaneous emphysema, hematoma, ecchymosis, crepitus, loss of landmarks

--Associated injuries w/laryngeal fractures: intracranial injury (13%), open neck injury (9%), C-spine fx (8%), esophageal injury (3%)

BOTTOM LINE:

--hyoid bone fractures are rare

--most are from strangulation, few from blunt trauma

--respiratory compromise is the big issue (duh)

--associated with other head & neck badness

Submitted by J. Gullo.

Reference(s): PMID: 21397138; PMID: 10484094; emedicine: laryngeal fractures, picture