Many people believe that if you sharply hit a man in an Adam's apple, then it threatens instant death. All sorts of action movies, where the hero literally with one blow sends the opponent to the other world, contribute a lot to this opinion. What are the real consequences of hitting an Adam's apple? Are they so tragic and fatal?
In fact, a lot depends on the structure of the larynx, the impact force, direction and point of application of force. Of course, you can suffer from an accidental combination of circumstances. There are cases when young mothers turned to traumatology after a well-aimed blow of an unhappy baby. If children are capable of causing such injuries, it is better to understand all the subtleties.
The structure of the larynx and the function of the Adam's apple
The very name "Adam's apple" implies that only men can brag of it. However, the thyroid cartilage of the larynx is present in all people, regardless of gender, just in women, the plates of this cartilage are connected at an obtuse angle and are not so noticeable. Adam's apple configuration is formed under the influence of hormones, it is testosterone that is responsible for the sharper angle that stands out on the male neck.
Cartilage covers the front of the larynx, it takes part in voice formation, helps swallowing movements. In a word, this is an important part of the body, and its damage is dangerous for both men and women.
The consequences of a blow to the Adam's apple directly depend on the individual structural features of the skeleton of the larynx. For example, in some people, the superior laryngeal artery passes through an opening in the thyroid cartilage, this is a variant of the norm, but more often this blood vessel is located higher and passes through the thyroid hyoid membrane.
What happens when you hit the neck?
It is worth mentioning that any blows to the neck area are potentially dangerous. There is no so-called “muscle corset”, large blood vessels are quite close to the skin surface. Any strong effect leads to edema, traumatic rupture of the capillaries, a hematoma is formed, which can put pressure on the respiratory tract. Moreover, this is not necessarily the result of a blow to the Adam's apple, the neck is generally a favorite place, which, if injured, can disable the enemy.
The lateral surfaces are the jugular vein and the carotid artery. From the back, it is easier to damage the cervical spine, and if you hit a little higher in the base of the skull, then you can cause injury to the region of the medulla oblongata. However, for some reason, it is the thyroid cartilage that is considered the most vulnerable.
The consequences of hitting the Adam's apple
The vast majority of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat manuals describe this technique as fail-safe. Indeed, if the enemy is large, behaves aggressively, then it may be necessary to protect their own integrity. This is especially true for women who are forced to confront sexual violence. The most effective strike is obtained by holding it with the edge of the palm, knuckles or forearm.
What consequences of hitting a fist in an Adam's apple can threaten the victim, because it is the clenched fist that is considered the most destructive? If we consider precisely the thyroid cartilage, then this method is less traumatic than the point application of force. Of course, the attack will cause quite tangible pain, but it is unlikely to cause irreparable harm.
The main risk with a point impact is not even in the Adam's apple fracture itself, but in edema, which in this case will quickly block the airways. The situation is aggravated by panic, the heart begins to beat faster, quickened breathing quickens, the larynx swells even more.
First aid after injury
Fracture of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx requires immediate medical attention. Not all people can adequately assess their own condition - stress and lack of experience affect it. The vast majority of doctors insist that it is better to disturb the doctor for a relatively insignificant reason than to contact too late. Correct self-diagnosis cannot be required from patients.
What can be done to prevent the consequences of hitting the Adam's apple with a fist, palm edge, or even a foreign object becoming irreparable? If the victim has difficulty breathing, it is difficult to swallow and a sore throat, it is worthwhile to apply a cold compress to the front of the neck, this will slow down the formation of edema. The opened cough with blood looks worse, so do not hesitate - call an ambulance.
Restoration of the function of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx
What consequences of hitting an Adam's apple can become irreparable? The acute angle of the cartilaginous plates, which is inherent in men, forms a typical low timbre of the voice. If due to trauma this corner becomes obtuse, or the Adam's apple is partially destroyed, the voice will become higher. In addition, in some cases, difficulty breathing may persist, and the mechanism of swallowing may be impaired.
Surgical repair is used to repair a severely damaged thyroid cartilage. In some cases, prosthetics are required. The operation was developed for patients in whom the Adam's apple partially or completely collapsed due to cancer. In some cases, the correction of the shape of the thyroid cartilage is carried out as part of comprehensive measures to change the sex.
The recovery period requires patient attention and awareness of the severity of the problem. It is necessary to completely eliminate alcohol and any food that may irritate the larynx. This will reduce the rehabilitation time.