Pediatric tongue-tie division: indications, techniques and patient satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
To study the characteristics and outcome of paediatric tongue-tie division.


METHODS
Retrospective analyses of 317 paediatric tongue-tie divisions (frenotomy or frenuloplasty).


RESULTS
Based on a questionnaire returned by 159 (51%) of patients (or guardians) the most common indication was speech/articulation problems (64%). Other indications included restricted movement (18%) and lactation/nutrition problems (8%). 84% of patients (or guardians) reported benefit from the operation. The initial surgical technique was frenotomy (no or local anaesthesia) for 34%, frenotomy (general anaesthesia) for 16%, frenuloplasty (no or local anaesthesia) for 5% and frenuloplasty (general anaesthesia) for 46% of the patients. Almost one-third of children treated with frenotomy under no or local anaesthesia needed re-operation compared to one out of 181 (0.6%) treated with frenotomy or frenuloplasty under general anaesthesia. There were no postoperative complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Frenotomy under no or local anaesthesia is safe and cost-effective, but one-third of children need re-operation. Adequate division of the frenulum is more important than the technique (frenuloplasty vs. frenotomy) used and seems to be easier to achieve under general anaesthesia.
Klockars
Tuomas
T
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. tuomas.klockars@fimnet.fi
Pitkäranta
Anne
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008035:Lingual Frenum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome