Early-injection laryngoplasty may lower risk of thyroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To determine whether injection laryngoplasty within 6 months following the onset of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) decreases the rate of permanent thyroplasty in adults.

Search strategies created by a medical librarian were implemented in multiple online research databases.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed to capture randomized clinical trials and cohort studies examining adults with UVFP who received injection laryngoplasty early in the course of treatment, within 6 months of onset, or who were observed. The primary outcome was the rate of thyroplasty. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess quality of included cohort studies. Random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate an overall relative risk (RR). Heterogeneity was evaluated with the I² statistic.

The search strategy resulted in 1,177 studies, of which four cohort studies remained for meta-analysis after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. All studies were rated as 9 of 9 on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis of 275 patients with UVFP revealed that the overall pooled RR of undergoing thyroplasty in those receiving an early injection was 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.14-0.45) compared to conservative management (late or no injection). The I² overall was 62.4%.

Otolaryngologists should offer injection laryngoplasty to patients with a diagnosis of UVFP within 6 months of diagnosis (recommendation based on grade C evidence with a preponderance of benefit over harm). Laryngoscope, 128:935-940, 2018.