Arytenoid cartilage dislocation caused by a laryngeal mask airway treated with chemical splinting

Sore throat and hoarseness after laryngoscopy and short-term endotracheal intubation is not uncommon. The incidence ranges from 16% to 100% (1,2). The cause of postintubation hoarseness is multifactoral including pharyngeal and laryngeal trauma, hematoma and edema, vocal cord paralysis, and arytenoid cartilage dislocation (3-5). As of 1994 there were only 57 cases of arytenoid dislocation or subluxation reported in the world literature (6). The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is an airway management device which was introduced in 1988 (7). It is an alternative to endotracheal intubation for certain routine anesthetics and is an adjunct in emergency airway management (8). The LMA does not necessitate direct laryngoscopy for insertion and, therefore, should limit the airway trauma sometimes caused by instrumentation with rigid laryngoscopes. We present the first report of arytenoid cartilage dislocation secondary to LMA insertion. Treatment was by mechanical reduction and chemical splinting.