• P G ten Koppel, G J van Osch, C D Verwoerd, and H L Verwoerd-Verhoef.
• Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. tenkoppel@kno.fgg.eur.nl
• Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 1998 Feb 1; 43 (1): 1-10.

AbstractInjury-induced abnormal development of the cricoid ring has been demonstrated in previous growth studies. In this study we focused on the immediate effects of various types of lesions to the cricoid, eliminating the influence of inserting muscles. In isolated, vital cricoids (cricoid explants) the anterior arch was split, creating a small gap between the cut ends. Previous injury to the internal surface of the cricoid ring resulted in a three to four fold increase of the diameter of the gap, actually widening the interrupted cricoid. On the contrary, injuring the external surface of the cricoid cartilage prior to anterior cricoid split, leads to an overlap of the cut edges, and a narrowing of the ring. These injury-specific changes in shape of the cricoid ring are ascribed to the release of interlocked stresses, present in the cartilage. It is suggested that the demonstrated methods to change the shape of the cricoid ring in a predictable way, are relevant for the treatment of patients with cricoid malformation.

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