Emergency call: Trachea rupture in a child

SummaryTrachea rupture following blunt neck trauma in childhood is extremely rare. It is therefore unsuspected and easily overlooked by the attending physician in the emergency setting. In this case report a 6-year-old boy suffered a complete transverse trachea rupture at the cervical level following a roll-over injury. Finally, a favourable outcome resulted, but proper management of such trachea lesions is still difficult as standard treatment protocols are lacking. Based on an extended literature review the emergency management is discussed from patient's initial presentation at a district hospital until his arrival at our pediatric trauma center and until specialist surgical service was performed. Trauma mechanisms and etiologies, potential diagnostic and operative procedures and leading clinical signs of pediatric tracheal lesions are discussed in detail, too.