Neonates presenting with severe complications of frenotomy: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Tongue-tie or ankyloglossia is an anatomic variation in which the lingual frenulum is thick, short or tight. It may be asymptomatic, or present with complications like breast feeding difficulties or speech, dental and cosmetic problems. The treatment of this condition, where indicated, is frenotomy. This procedure usually has few or no complications. However, when it is done by untrained personnel, it may lead to life-threatening complications. This paper highlights complications that could arise from improper treatment of ankyloglossia.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Case 1 was a one-day-old male neonate, a Nigerian of Igbo ethnicity, who was admitted with bleeding from the mouth and passage of dark stools after clipping of the frenulum by a traditional birth attendant. He was severely pale and in hypovolemic shock, with a severed frenulum which was bleeding actively. His packed cell volume was 15%. He was resuscitated with intravenous fluids and a blood transfusion. The bleeding was controlled using an adrenaline pack. He also received antibiotics. He was discharged five days later.</p> <p>Case 2 was a three-day-old male neonate, a Nigerian of Ikwerre ethnicity, who was admitted with profuse bleeding from a soft tissue injury under the tongue, after clipping of the frenulum by a community health worker. He was severely pale and lethargic. He was resuscitated with intravenous fluids and a blood transfusion. The bleeding vessel was ligated with repair of the soft tissue. He also received antibiotics and was discharged home one week later.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Treatment of tongue-tie, a benign condition, when done by untrained personnel may result in life-threatening complications. Clinicians should pay more attention to parents' worries about this condition and give adequate counseling or refer them to trained personnel for surgical intervention where clinically indicated.</p

Prevalência de alteração no frênulo lingual e suas implicações na fala de escolares Prevalence of change in frenulun lingual and its implications in speech of school children

OBJETIVOS: verificar a prevalência do frênulo lingual alterado e suas implicações na fala de escolares. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados por três fonoaudiólogas os frênulos de língua de 260 crianças com idades variando entre 6 e 12 anos. Os frênulos foram classificados por meio de inspeção visual, medidas empregando-se paquímetro e avaliação da tensão, mobilidade e posicionamento da língua. Foram consideradas crianças com alteração de frênulo aquelas que apresentaram alteração em todas etapas da avaliação. Nos casos de classificação de frênulo alterado, a fala foi avaliada. RESULTADOS: os dados encontrados revelaram que das 260 crianças avaliadas 47 (18%), apresentaram alteração de frênulo, sendo 28 (60%), classificados como curtos; 12 (25%) como anteriorizados e 7 (15%) como curtos e anteriorizados. Não houve diferença entre os sexos. Dos indivíduos com frênulo alterado, 34 (72 %) apresentaram alteração de fala. A prevalência de alteração na fala foi maior no frênulo curto e anteriorizado (85%), seguido pelo curto (75%) e pelo anteriorizado (58%). As implicações de fala mais encontradas foram distorção e articulação trancada. CONCLUSÃO: foi verificada uma prevalência de 18% de alteração no frênulo lingual dentre os escolares avaliados, sem diferença entre os sexos. O frênulo curto predomina sobre os demais tipos, porém o curto e anteriorizado apresenta maiores implicações na fala. As características de fala mais comuns nestes casos são distorção e articulação trancada.<br>PURPOSE: to check the prevalence of altered tongue frenum and its implications on the scholar's speech. METHODS: tongue frenum of 260 children between 6 and 12 years old was evaluated by three speech therapists using visual inspection and caliper measurements. The children that showed changes in all stages of the evaluation were those considered to be with frenum alteration. The speech was evaluated in those children with altered tongue frenum. RESULTS: the found data revealed that from the 260 children, 47 (18%) had altered tongue frenum, being 28 (60%) classified as short, 12 (25%) as anterior and 7 (15%) as short and anterior. There weren't differences between sexes. Modifications on speech were seen in 34 children (72%) of those that had altered tongue frenum. The prevalence of speech alteration was higher in short and anterior frenum (85%) followed by short (75%) and anterior (58%). The most founded common speech implications were distortion and locked articulation. CONCLUSION: a prevalence of 18% in altered tongue frenum was verified among the evaluated scholars, with no differences between genders. The short frenum is the predominant type, although the short and anterior ones are more related to altered speech. The most common speech characteristics in these cases are distortion and locked articulation

Ankyloglossia: facts and myths in diagnosis and treatment

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to systematically review the diagnostic criteria, indications, and need for treatment of ankyloglossia (tongue-tie), as well as the various treatment options for patients in different age groups. METHODS: The MEDLINE databases and the Cochrane Library were searched according to well-defined criteria, resulting in 64 included articles. The evidence regarding the classifications of tongue-tie, epidemiologic data, inheritance, breastfeeding problems, impaired tongue mobility, speech disorders, malocclusion, gingival recessions, therapy, and complications due to surgery was analyzed in detail. RESULTS: Different classifications for ankyloglossia have been proposed but not uniformly accepted. Breastfeeding problems in neonates could be associated with a tongue-tie, but not enough controlled trials have been performed to identify an ideal treatment option. In children and adults with ankyloglossia, limitations in tongue mobility are present, but the individual degree of discomfort, as well as the severity of an associated speech problem, are subjective and difficult to categorize. There is no evidence supporting the development of gingival recessions because of ankyloglossia. Frenotomy, frenectomy, and frenuloplasty are the main surgical treatment options to release/remove an ankyloglossia. Because of the limited evidence available, no specific surgical method can be favored. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of an accepted definition and classification of ankyloglossia makes comparisons between studies almost impossible. Because almost no controlled prospective trials for surgical interventions in patients with tongue-ties are present in the literature, no conclusive suggestions regarding the method of choice can be made. It also remains controversial which tongue-ties need to be surgically removed and which can be left to observation