Objective To discuss the cause and treatment strategy for open laryngotracheal trauma.Methods The clinical data of 38 cases with open laryngotracheal trauma admitted from 1998 to 2012 were collected and analyzed.Of them,one patient died in emergency department despite energetic resuscitation,37 were hospitalized and given advanced treatment after life support measures in emergency department.They were treated with tracheotomy before or during operation.Of them,32 patients were regularly followed up for imaging studies.Result Except 1 patient died of exsanguination from carotid artery rupture,the other 37 survived after successful treatment.Twenty patients were treated with debridement and suture of the wounds and laryngoplasty (20/37,54.1％),8 patients were operated with laryngoplasty plus intraluminal stents implanted (8/37,21.6％) ; the rest 9 patients (9/37,24.3％) were separately given placement of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy stent (n =2),laryngofissure with rubber gloves throat models implanted and laryngoplasty (n =3),linear silicone tube implanted and laryngoplasty with trans-cervical approach (n =1) and tracheoesophageal fistula neoplasty with laryngoplasty and laryngofissure (n =3).The operated patients were followed-up for 0.5 to 3 years after discharge.Of them,35 patients (35/37,94.6％) had successful decannulation,breathing smoothly and swallowing normally,23 patients (23/37,62.2％) had almost normal pronunciation,12 patients (12/37,32.4％) had different degrees in hoarseness of voice,and 2 patients (2/37,5.4％) were referred to other hospital because of failure in extubation with severe stenosis of laryngotrachea.Conclusions When the patients with open laryngotracheal trauma were treated,the essential strategy was to prevent shock,hemorrhage,and asphyxia.In the case of patent respiratory tract and stable vital signs,laryngotracheal reconstruction should be carried out as soon as possible to prevent complications,thereby obtaining good therapeutic effect.