Severe penetrating neck injury, successfully repaired epiglottis

Penetrating traumatic laryngeal–pharyngeal injuries are relatively rare and traumatic injuries to the epiglottis are extremely rare. The incidence varies between countries. Most of these cases are dealt with by ear, nose and throat specialists, and trauma surgeons deal with such trauma when concomitant injury is present. In our institution laryngeal–pharyngeal trauma occurs 3–5 times per year. The literature records one case of penetrating injury to the epiglottis with complete transection but without an attempt at surgical repair [1]. This report describes a traumatic laceration with subtotal trans-section of epiglottis which was successfully repaired.