In vitro comparison of two techniques for suture prosthesis placement in the muscular process of the equine arytenoid cartilage.

This study compared two techniques for placing a suture prosthesis in the muscular process of horse arytenoid cartilage: using a bone trocar and a trocar point needle. The results suggested similar outcomes for both techniques, with the bone trocar method showing a potential reduction in fissure formation in the cartilage, possibly reducing the risk of failure from suture pullout.

Objective and Methods

This in vitro experimental study was carried out to compare the effectiveness of two different tools – a bone trocar and a trocar point needle – in placing a suture prosthesis in the muscular process of equine arytenoid cartilage. The main measure of comparison was the load necessary for a partial and complete rupture of the cartilage when a suture prosthesis was placed.

The test specimens were larynges from 18 thoroughbred racehorses varying in age from 2 to 20 years. The arytenoid cartilages were randomly divided into two groups:

• Group 1: a suture prosthesis was inserted directly through the muscular process using a curved trocar point needle.
• Group 2: the suture prosthesis was passed through a hole predrilled with a 3mm bone trocar.

A distracting force was applied to the suture until the muscular process failed and the necessary forces for partial and complete failure were recorded.

Results

The study found no significant differences between the two techniques in terms of the mechanical test variables. However, the failure mode differed between the two groups. The failure mode of the cartilage followed the fissures that occurred at the beginning of the failure and then followed the axis of tension.

Significantly more linear failures occurred in Group 2 (using the bone trocar), while more curved failures occurred in Group 1 (using the needle).

Conclusions

The conclusions suggest that the use of a bone trocar to predrill a hole in the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage for suture placement may reduce the formation of fissures in the cartilage. To this end, this method could potentially decrease the risk of cartilage failure from suture pullout.