Tracheal buckling

Tracheal buckling is a normal finding in young infants when it is more flexible. There is typically deviation of the trachea anteriorly and to the right (up to 90°) and any other configuration (i.e. to the left or posteriorly) should raise the possibility of underlying pathology.

Practical points

Care should be taken when evaluating the prevertebral soft tissues, which may be artificially thickened by anterior buckling and a misdiagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess may result .