Thyroid Cartilage Fracture Following a Traffic Accident: A Rare Case with Forensic Implications

Introductıon – Objectıve: Laryngeal trauma is a rare condition but represents a potentially life-threatening injury

and accounts for less than 1% of cases evaluated in major trauma centers. These injuries are most commonly

associated with traffic accidents, sports injuries, physical assaults, hanging, and strangulation. Although thyroid

cartilage fractures are among the more frequently encountered types of laryngeal fractures, they are most

commonly reported in cases of hanging and strangulation in the literature. Their occurrence following blunt

trauma due to traffic accidents has been reported less frequently. Furthermore, due to mild or asymptomatic

clinical findings, such injuries may occasionally be overlooked. The aim of this study is to present a case of thyroid

cartilage fracture detected after a traffic accident and to emphasize the forensic significance of such injuries in

medicolegal evaluation.

Case: A 27-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital following a traffic accident while riding a

motorcycle. On initial examination, the patient was conscious and in good general condition, with a 5–6 cm

laceration in the right frontal region. Computed tomography (CT) revealed no obvious fractures in the bony

structures; however, cervical CT demonstrated a longitudinal, non-displaced fracture line in the left lamina of the

thyroid cartilage. In addition, thoracic CT revealed findings consistent with a left apical pneumothorax. A

concomitant fracture of the left patella was also detected and surgically treated by the orthopedic department.

During follow-up, no laryngeal complications posing a life-threatening condition were observed.

Dıscussıon–Conclusıon: Thyroid cartilage fractures are most commonly encountered in cases of strangulation

and hanging, whereas their occurrence following blunt trauma due to traffic accidents has been reported less

frequently. In some cases, these injuries may present without obvious clinical symptoms and may only be detected

through radiological examinations. In the present case, despite the absence of prominent laryngeal symptoms, a

thyroid cartilage fracture was identified on CT imaging. This finding highlights the importance of careful

radiological evaluation of the cervical region following blunt trauma. Since thyroid cartilage fractures may

indicate the transmission of traumatic force to the cervical region and provide valuable information regarding the

mechanism of injury, they constitute important findings in forensic evaluation. Therefore, careful assessment of

laryngeal bones and cartilaginous structures in trauma cases is essential for both appropriate clinical management

and accurate medicolegal reporting.

Keywords: Traffic accident, thyroid cartilage fracture, laryngeal trauma, forensic medicine