Laryngeal Fracture following Violent Sneeze: Management and Biomechanical Analysis

Laryngeal fractures are rare occurrences, usually the result of direct and high-force trauma.1 Even in these cases, <1% of patients suffer a fracture of the larynx. Patients who suffer a fracture present with dysphonia, neck pain, dyspnea, and dysphagia.1 Nontraumatic laryngeal fracture is exceedingly rare, and its occurrence should trigger suspicion for underlying neoplastic or inflammatory conditions. We report the case of a patient with acute odynophagia, pain with neck movement, and dysphonia after an episode of sneezing. In addition to appropriate management, we discuss the biomechanics of sneezing and the forces generated during sternutation to better understand the etiology of such events