Vocal Cord Movement Impairment in Children

Abstract

Our study involved a case population of 87 children with pediatric vocal cord motion impairment. We reviewed the associated airway conditions, treatment and prognostic outcomes of vocal cord palsy（31 bilateral and 26 ipsilateral cases）, vocal cord paresis（22 cases）, and paradoxical vocal cord movement（PVCM）（5 cases）. With bilateral vocal cord palsy and paresis, the most common symptom was stridor, whereas dysphonia was most common with ipsilateral vocal cord palsy. Cardiovascular diseases are strongly associated with left vocal cord palsy. Recovery was noted in 5 of 87（6％）cases within 1 year, and 20 cases（23％）within 5 years. Conservative treatment is adovocated in pediatric vocal cord dysfunction due to the risks of undergoing a tracheostomy. There is an expectation of high recovery rates within several years.