Mechanical comparison of 3 anchoring techniques in the muscular process for laryngoplasty in the equine larynx.

To compare mechanical properties of 2 techniques with a conventional technique for anchoring the muscular process in a laryngoplasty procedure.Experimental ex vivo study.Equine larynges (n = 60).A single loop (SL), a screw (SC), and a double loop technique (DL) were compared. Constructs were subjected to cyclic loading, oscillating from 5 to 50 N for 3000 cycles, followed by a single cycle to failure test. Mean distraction, load at failure, stiffness, and failure mode were compared between groups.Mean ± SD distraction in cyclic loading was greater for DL (2.1 ± 0.7 mm) than for SL (1.9 ± 1.3 mm) and SC (1.539 ± 0.9 mm); however, there was no significant difference between SL and SC or between SL and DL. Mean ultimate failure load was greater for DL (240 ± 44.56 N) than for SC (189.59 ± 46.16 N) and SL (150.93 ± 44.43 N) and greater for SC compared with SL. Failure occurred by cartilage tearing for DL and SL, and by screw pull out (n = 13) or knot slippage (4) for SC.In cyclic loading, SC is more stable than DL and at least as stable as SL. In single cycle to failure, DL is the strongest construct and SC is stronger than SL.