Method Of Exam

1. Position yourself in front of the patient and note the position of the thyroid cartilage.
2. Inspect for the symmetry of clavicular insertion of both sternomastoids.
3. Tracheal Position: Gently bend the head to relax the sternomastoids. By inserting your finger between the trachea and sternomastoid, assess and compare the space on either side.

Caution:

Make certain that the patient is seated straight or preferably standing erect.

Normal: Trachea is slightly tilted to right. As a result, the clavicular insertion of right Sternomastoid is slightly more prominent and the space between trachea and sternomastoid is smaller compared to left.