Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Jul 31;10(4):e70173.
doi: 10.1002/lio2.70173. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Preclinical Vocal Fold and Airway Injury Models: A Scoping Review

Rahul D Patel  1 , Nour Awad  2 , Denzel Ryan D Cruz  1   3   4 , Aida M Hasson  2 , Cameron D Cook  4 , Danielle Hall  2 , Gregory R Dion  1   2   4
Affiliations
Review

Preclinical Vocal Fold and Airway Injury Models: A Scoping Review

Rahul D Patel et al. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. .

Abstract

Objectives: Preclinical models are necessary to study the pathophysiology of laryngotracheal diseases and novel treatments. Currently, there is no consensus on species, injury mechanics, and study duration This review provides a contemporary overview of the studies of vocal fold and laryngotracheal injuries in preclinical models.

Methods: A search was performed in PubMed and Web of Science involving various animal models undergoing vocal fold, trachea, and laryngotracheal injury and/or wound healing studies from 2013 to 2023. Articles were independently screened and selected by four reviewers.

Results: Of 1279 filtered studies, 197 studies were identified and categorized by species, study duration, and mechanism of injury (MOI): vocal fold stripping, intubation, lasers, microtools, scraping, and other MOIs. Within each MOI, studies were grouped by animal model, with subsections discussing tissue target, research aim, analysis method, and study duration. Leporine and rat models were the most employed animal models for both vocal fold wound healing and laryngotracheal models. Leporine studies had the broadest diversity in MOIs, with lasers, microtools, scraping, and other methods used. Comparatively, rat studies primarily utilized vocal fold stripping as a MOI, perhaps second to anatomic limitations. Larger species, specifically porcine models, were most prevalent in intubation injury studies. Ferret, mouse, and ovine models were less utilized. Study duration varied from 1 day to 3 months in vocal fold injury models and 30 min to 12 months in laryngotracheal injuries.

Conclusion: This review provides a foundational framework to collate and interpret available data on preclinical vocal fold and laryngotracheal injury models to guide future study design.

Level of evidence: Five scoping review/NA.

Keywords: laryngotracheal injury; pre‐clinical models; vocal fold injury; wound healing.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart of study selection and screening performed in accordance with PRISMA‐ScR guidelines.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Saran M., Georgakopoulos B., and Bordoni B., Anatomy, Head and Neck, Larynx Vocal Cords (StatPearls, 2023). - PubMed
    1. Suárez‐Quintanilla J., Fernández Cabrera A., and Sharma S., Anatomy, Head and Neck: Larynx (StatPearls, 2023). - PubMed
    1. Almanzar A. and Danckers M., Laryngotracheal Stenosis (StatPearls, 2023). - PubMed
    1. Imaizumi M., Thibeault S. L., and Leydon C., “Classification for Animal Vocal Fold Surgery: Resection Margins Impact Histological Outcomes of Vocal Fold Injury,” Laryngoscope 124 (2014): 124. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Page M. J., McKenzie J. E., Bossuyt P. M., et al., “The PRISMA 2020 Statement: An Updated Guideline for Reporting Systematic Reviews,” BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) 372, no. n71 (2021). - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources