Blunt tracheal trauma seldom develops in children because of their anatomy and the mobility of the cartilage. It has the potential
to be overlooked, either because of the severity of concomitant injuries or because of the unfamiliarity of paediatricians
with this type of injury. However, tracheal injury might be lethal due to airway compromise. Early bronchoscopy may be necessary
to anticipate complications and prevent permanent dysfunction. We present a retrospective, double-institution case series
over a 5-year period, describing five children, aged 3 to 14 years, with tracheal injury after blunt cervical trauma. All
patients showed emphysema with pneumomediastinum. After explorative bronchoscopy, all patients were successfully treated with
antibiotics and/or supportive ventilation. In summary, minimal lesions due to blunt tracheal trauma could be treated conservatively
in children. Since the external signs of tracheal injury are not indicative of the extent of the trauma, a high index of suspicion
is warranted in these patients.
Keywords Blunt trauma - Tracheal injury - Paediatrics - Airway - Management