Effect of age and prostheses location on rima glottidis area in equine cadaveric larynges.

The research study investigates how a horse’s age and the location of laryngeal prostheses influence the area of the rima glottidis (opening between the vocal folds) in cadaveric horse larynges.

Research Methodology

• The researchers conducted the study in an experimental setting.
• They used 40 cadaveric equine larynges for the study.
• These laryngeal specimens were divided into three distinct age groups: group 1 being the youngest at 5 years or less, group 2 ranging from above 5 up to 10 years, and group 3 having horses older than 10 years.
• To test the effect of prosthesis position, they placed three types of prostheses at different locations in the larynx: a cranial prosthesis through the dorsal cricoid spine, a dorsal prosthesis through the caudal rim of the cricoid, and a lateral prosthesis 1.5 cm away from the dorsal prosthesis.
• All prostheses had to pass through the muscular process. The tightness of the prostheses was gradually increased using a tensiometer, ranging from 0 Newton (N) to 35 N force, in 5 N increments.

Research Findings

• The research study did not find any significant effect of horse’s age on the area of the rima glottidis under different loads at any of the three prosthetic positions.

Conclusions from the Study

• Based on the results, researchers concluded that the age of horses didn’t have any significant impact on the rima glottidis area when the prostheses were subject to forces between 5 N and 35 N.