Vocal Cord Paralysis in Pediatric Patients with Arnold-Chiari
Malformations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Objective: To highlight risk factors affecting outcomes of vocal
cord paralysis (VCP) in patients with Arnold-Chiari malformations (ACM).
Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the 2020
PRISMA checklist. The authors comprehensively searched multiple
databases from inception till August 2023 for both keywords and medical
subject headings pertinent to ACM and VCP. Data from 33 studies were
obtained by applying predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and
quality assessment of the chosen articles. Meta-analysis using
Chi-squared test and binary logistic regression was performed to
determine the association between age and other variables.
Results: The 33 studies included a total of 165 patients with a
mean age of 15.31 months. The predominant type of Chiari malformation
was type 2, observed in 120 cases. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis was
confirmed in 103 patients while 12 patients had unilateral disease. The
most common treatment modality was ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement
in 108 patients (65.45%), followed by posterior fossa decompression
surgery in 86 patients (52.12%). Regarding airway status, most patients
were not intubated (65.45%), however more than one third of patients
underwent tracheostomy (38.79%) following VCP. There was a significant
association between the age of VCP onset and both recovery and survival
in both the overall cohort and the ACM II cohort. Conclusion: Age
at onset of VCP is a critical factor associated with both recovery and
survival rates in pediatric patients, with younger age linked to partial
symptom resolution and worse survival.