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Tongue-tie division to treat breastfeeding difficulties: our experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2015

S D Sharma  and
S Jayaraj
S D Sharma*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, London, UK
S Jayaraj
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Sunil D Sharma, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Whipps Cross Hospital, Whipps Cross Road, London E11 1NR, UK Fax: +44 207 791 9670 E-mail: sunilsharma@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objectives:

To assess the benefits of frenotomy on breastfeeding in infants, and determine the influence of age.

Methods:

A telephone questionnaire of all patients diagnosed with tongue-tie over 12 months was conducted pre-intervention and 1-month post-intervention. The Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool was used to assess breastfeeding.

Results:

Of 54 infants diagnosed with tongue-tie, 78 per cent of mothers participated in the survey. Eighty-six per cent of patients underwent frenotomy, with no surgical complications. In the frenotomy group, 81 per cent of mothers reported improvement in breastfeeding, versus 17 per cent in the non-surgical group (p = 0.0074). In the frenotomy group, the mean (±standard deviation) Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool score was 3.33 ± 1.51 pre-intervention, versus 9.19 ± 2.44 post-intervention (p = 0.0001). In the non-surgical intervention group, the mean score (±standard deviation) was 4.17 ± 0.75 pre-intervention, versus 6.00 ± 1.73 post-intervention (p = 0.16). For infants who underwent frenotomy, there was a reported improvement in 94 per cent of those aged less than 30 days, versus 68 per cent in infants aged over 30 days (p = 0.092).

Conclusion:

Frenotomy is a safe, short procedure that improves breastfeeding outcomes, and is best performed at an early age.

Keywords

AnkyloglossiaBreast FeedingTongue Tie
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 10 , October 2015 , pp. 986 - 989
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

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