J Korean Dysphagia Soc.  2023 Jan;13(1):71-76. 10.34160/jkds.2023.13.1.010.

Dysphagia after Multiple Fractures of the Neck Structures Due to Near-Hanging: A Case Report

• Kim J
• Chae DJ
• Park JB
• Lee YJ
• Kim YS
• Yun YS
• Hong MJ

• KMID: 2539469
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.34160/jkds.2023.13.1.010

Abstract

Although hanging is the most common method of suicide in Korea, there are few reports of dysphagia following laryngeal injuries due to near-hanging. This is a case report of a patient who complained of dysphagia after a complex fracture of the neck structures caused due to attempted suicide by hanging. A 51-year-old male visited our hospital with neck injuries after a near-hanging episode. Laryngoscopy suspected dislocation of the right arytenoid cartilage. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed fractures of the right hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, as well as soft tissue emphysema. A closed reduction for the dislocation of the right arytenoid cartilage was performed. After surgery, oral feeding was attempted five days after surgery but stopped due to a large amount of aspiration. After two weeks, a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) revealed a decreased laryngeal elevation and severe impairment of the upper esophageal sphincter opening. The patient was then given rehabilitation for oropharyngeal dysphagia to restore swallowing function. Four months after the injury, VFSS showed that the residue in the pyriform sinus after multiple swallowing attempts decreased compared to the previous studies. However, oral diet and enteral feeding were combined due to the patient experiencing early fatigue due to swallowing difficulties. Our observations, in this case, show that it was necessary to provide treatment through a multidisciplinary approach coupled with long-term follow-up for patients with dysphagia after complex fractures by near-hanging.

Keyword

Attempted suicide; Deglutition disorders; Hanging; Larynx; Multiple fractures