Paediatria Croatica, Vol. 57 No. 3, 2013.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
Neonatological aspects of frenotomy in children with ankyloglossia
Zora Zakanj
; Klinički bolnički centar „Sestre milosrdnice“, Klinika za ginekologiju i porodništvo, Vinogradska cesta 29
Sažetak
Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is a congenital anomaly characterized by a short lingual frenulum, which can lead to short- and lon
g-
term restrictions of tongue movements. In newborns it can cause feeding diffi
culty. The aim of the study was to identify ankyloglossia
by clinical and functional presentation in otherwise healthy newborns, to establish the degree of breastfeeding diffi
culties in infants
with ankyloglossia, and to evaluate the eff
ectiveness of frenotomy. This retrospective analysis included 2872 healthy newborns. An-
kyloglossia was estimated clinically, diffi
culties in breastfeeding were identifi ed, and effi
cacy of frenotomy in newborns with severe
ankyloglossia was assessed. The frequency of ankyloglossia was 3.76%, with the male to female ratio 3.1:1. Mild ankyloglossia w
as
found in 27 (25%), moderate in 32 (29.63%) and severe in 49 (45.37%) infants. Transient diffi
culties in breastfeeding in infants with
mild and moderate ankyloglossia were resolved through timely professional help during breastfeeding, without the need of frenot
-
omy. In 37.04% of the total number of children with ankyloglossia, only infants with severe ankyloglossia and associated diffi
culties
in breastfeeding (40 of 49 cases) underwent frenotomy. The most common diffi
culty was nipple pain during breastfeeding (75%),
attachment to the breast (22.5%), and nipple damage (2.5%). Pain intensity before frenotomy was 7.38±1.53 and after frenotomy
1.75±1.11 (p<0.0001). In conclusion, proper assessment of the degree of ankyloglossia and the need of frenotomy in newborns can
resolve most diffi
culties with breastfeeding. Frenotomy in newborns is a mild, rapid and safe procedure that can be performed in the
fi rst days of life, and its long-term eff
ectiveness should be confi rmed by randomized controlled trials
Ključne riječi
ankyloglossia; infant, newborn; neonatology; tongue
Hrčak ID:
119705
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.9.2013.
Posjeta: 901 *