[A rare complication of endotracheal intubation: posterior luxation of the left arytenoid cartilage].

The luxation of the arytenoid cartilage is a very uncommon complication of endotracheal intubation. Symptoms usually are aphonia, dysphonia, pain or discomfort in the throat, odynophagia and laryngeal stridor. It may be due to several factors: the pressure of the convex aspect of the tube on the arytenoid, traumatic or prolonged intubations, reintubations within a short period, or some systemic diseases. We report a case of posterior luxation of the left arytenoid in a patient who had been anesthetized for the radical cure of a left inguinal hernia. The clinical features developed when he recovered from anesthesia, with aphonia and discomfort in the throat. The diagnosis was made by indirect laryngoscopy. Treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents was instituted. Aphonia disappeared after 2 weeks and dysphonia persisted. The patient became asymptomatic with corticosteroids on the fourth week after operation. Early diagnosis under laryngoscopic vision is recommended, with adequate therapy to prevent fibrosis of the cricoarytenoid joint with permanent sequelae.