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Following direct trauma to the upper part of the anterior neck, a young male presents with labored breathing, loss of voice and subcutaneous emphysema in the soft tissues around his neck. You should suspect a(n):

A. esophageal tear
B. laryngeal fracture
C. collapsed trachea
D. crushed cricoid

User Mauzilla
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Final answer:

The patient's symptoms after neck trauma suggest a laryngeal fracture, which is consistent with the anatomy and presentation of traumatic injuries to the upper respiratory system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms presented by the young male, such as labored breathing, loss of voice, and subcutaneous emphysema around the neck, point to a traumatic injury within the respiratory system. Given the locations for potential injury detailed in the provided information, the injury is likely to have occurred in the larynx. This is because the description of the larynx aligns with the location of the symptoms (upper part of the anterior neck), moreover, the larynx being above the trachea and primary bronchi would not have involved any injury below the site of intubation indicated in the diagram. The laryngeal fracture is often associated with the type of symptoms the patient is presenting. It is important to note that such an injury can be life-threatening, and requires immediate medical attention.

User Vidhi Dave
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