Combined blunt tracheal and esophageal ruptures 

44-year-old male car driver involved in a high-speed deceleration crash

Blunt esophageal lesions are encountered in less than 0.01% of cases. They occur in violent traffic accidents, as part of a crushing mechanism, and are associated with a 57% mortality, consecutive to associated lesions or to delayed mediastinitis and subsequent sepsis. Esophageal injuries include mucosal dissections, intramural haematomas, lacerations and ruptures. They are often associated with other visceral lesions, such as tracheo-bronchial ones, due to the mechanism and severity of trauma.