Vocal Cord Paralysis in Children 1 Year of Age and Younger

Twenty-two patients 1 year of age or younger were diagnosed as having unilateral or bilateral vocal cord paralyses between 1962 and 1985. There was a marked male predominance, and 12 of the paralyses were bilateral. Congenital neurological malformations were the cause in six patients, birth trauma in five, surgery in four, syphilis in one, and six cases were idiopathic. Tracheotomy was necessary in 11 of the patients with bilateral paralyses. Ten of the 16 patients for whom follow-up was available had resolution of the paralysis from 1 week to 5 years of age. The importance of making an accurate diagnosis is stressed, as is using the fiberoptic laryngoscope.