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Comparative Study
. 2024 Dec;134(12):5152-5159.
doi: 10.1002/lary.31615. Epub 2024 Jul 18.

Tongue-tie in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Compared to Healthy Newborns

Margo K McKenna  1 , Casey Rosen-Carole  2 , Michele Burtner  2 , John L Wilson  1 , Suzie Greenman  3 , Shalini Shah  3 , Paul Allen  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Tongue-tie in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Compared to Healthy Newborns

Margo K McKenna et al. Laryngoscope. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to characterize the prevalence of ankyloglossia in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) population and to determine characteristics of this cohort compared to infants in the birth center (BC).

Methods: Prospective data were collected using a standardized flow sheet. Breastfeeding infants undergoing evaluation for tongue-tie in the BC and NICU were included. Coryllos type, tip to frenulum length, tongue function, frequency of frenotomy, and breastfeeding outcomes were compared.

Results: Of 20,879 infants birthed at or admitted to the institution during the study period, there were fewer patients diagnosed with ankyloglossia in the BC compared to the NICU (3.3% BC vs. 5.4% NICU, p < 0.01). Of these, 163 underwent frenotomy: 86 in the BC and 77 in the NICU. For those undergoing frenotomy, gestational age (39.1 ± 1.3 BC, 34.4 ± 4.4 NICU, p < 0.01) and age at time of procedure (3.2 days BC, 29.2 NICU, p < 0.01) were the only demographic factors significantly different between the groups. There was no difference in Coryllos type or function score. In a subset of NICU infants with multiple assessments over time, function scores after frenotomy were significantly improved compared to pre-frenotomy (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Standard assessment tools appear to be appropriate for use in infants in the NICU, despite the higher rates of prematurity, low birth weights, and increased comorbidities. Assessment and intervention for tongue-tie can be one critical intervention to move these patients closer to oral feeding and discharge to home.

Level of evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:5152-5159, 2024.

Keywords: aerodigestive; ankyloglossia; breastfeeding; dysphagia; neonatal intensive care.

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