Introduction: Airway injury is a very rare complication of thyroglossal duct cyst surgery in children. The wound is most frequently located at the larynx, due to a confusion between the hyoid bone and the thyroid cartilage.
Observation: This is the first report of a tracheal injury complicating Sistrunk's procedure in a 3 year old child, revealed by respiratory distress. Conservative treatment was suggested, requiring a tracheostomy lasting 49 days, leading to decanulation and complete anatomical and functional recovery.
Conclusion: This report highlights the specificity of pediatric laryngotracheal anatomy.
Keywords: Pediatric laryngeal anatomy; Pediatric respiratory distress; Sistrunk's procedure; Thyroglossal duct cyst; Tracheal injury.
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