Preclinical Vocal Fold and Airway Injury Models: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Translational Research

Background:

• Preclinical models are crucial for understanding laryngotracheal diseases and developing new treatments.
• Current research lacks standardization regarding species, injury mechanisms, and study duration in preclinical models.
• A comprehensive overview of existing studies is needed to guide future research design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a contemporary review of preclinical models used for vocal fold and laryngotracheal injuries.
• To categorize and analyze existing studies based on species, mechanism of injury, and study duration.
• To establish a foundational framework for interpreting data and designing future preclinical studies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted for studies published between 2013 and 2023.
• Studies involving various animal models with vocal fold, trachea, or laryngotracheal injury and wound healing were included.
• Four independent reviewers screened and selected relevant articles.

Main Results:

• 197 studies were identified from 1279 filtered articles, categorized by species, duration, and mechanism of injury (MOI).
• Leporine and rat models were most common for vocal fold and laryngotracheal injuries, with leporine models showing greater MOI diversity.
• Porcine models were prevalent for intubation injuries, while ferret, mouse, and ovine models were less utilized. Study durations varied significantly.

Conclusions:

• This review offers a foundational framework for collating and interpreting data from preclinical vocal fold and laryngotracheal injury models.
• The findings highlight the heterogeneity in current preclinical research, emphasizing the need for standardization.
• This work aims to guide future study design for more consistent and reproducible research in the field.