ArticleInternational breastfeeding journal2022
Complications and misdiagnoses associated with infant frenotomy: results of a healthcare professional survey.
Article in International breastfeeding journal, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Impact of Frenotomy on Gastroesophageal Reflux in Pediatric Ankyloglossia: A Systematic Review.The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology · 2025Pooled it
- Lingual frenotomy for breastfeeding difficulties: indications, surgical techniques and multidisciplinary care in infants and young children.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026Review
- Salvage Frenuloplasty With Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa Graft in a Newborn Following Unsuccessful Laser Release: A Case Report.Case reports in otolaryngology · 2026Article
- Readhesion of Tongue-Tie Following Neonatal Frenotomy: Incidence and Impact of Postoperative Exercises in a Prospective Observational Study.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Ankyloglossia and breastfeeding self-efficacy in newborns: a birth cohort study.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Lingual laser frenotomy in newborns with ankyloglossia: a prospective cohort study.Italian journal of pediatrics · 2022Observational
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn the past 10-15 years, there has been increased concern about ankyloglossia and its effect on infant breastfeeding. This has been associated with increased performance of frenotomy. Physicians and other healthcare professionals with expertise in breastfeeding have voiced concerns about complications related to the performance of infant frenotomy. Reviews of this topic have reported no significant complications after frenotomy. Other data on complications consist of case reports.
methodsAn online survey was developed by physicians with expertise in breastfeeding and e-mailed to physician and dentist members of Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) between 11 November and 31 December 2019. It requested information from the respondents who cared for the mother/infant breastfeeding couple about their experiences personally caring for infants with complications or misdiagnoses related to referral for frenotomy or the performance of a frenotomy. Data were analyzed using chi square, Cramer's V correlation, and binomial logistic regression.
resultsOf 211 eligible respondents, 129 (61%) had cared for an infant with a complication or misdiagnosis. Two hundred and nine (209) infants were reported to have a complication and 237 had a misdiagnosis. The most common misdiagnoses reported were 101 of 237 infants (43%) with neuromuscular dysfunction and 65 of 237 (27%) with inadequate breastfeeding support. The most common complications reported were a repeat procedure considered/requested/performed 65 of 203 (32%) and oral aversion 57 of 203 (28%). Parental report of infant pain was associated with performance of a posterior frenotomy (Chi Square p < .003). Bleeding was associated with using scissors/scalpel vs laser/bovie/electrosurgery (Chi Square p = .001). Oral aversion was associated with performance of frenotomy by laser/bovie/electrosurgery vs scissors/scalpel (adjusted Odds Ratio of 4.05; 95% CI 2.07, 7.93).
conclusionsComplications and misdiagnoses are occurring after infant frenotomy. Physicians and dentists should work closely with lactation professionals to provide skilled breastfeeding support and to evaluate for other confounding problems that might impact infant breastfeeding before referral for frenotomy. Randomized controlled trials of optimized lactation support vs. frenotomy and of scissors vs laser in performance of frenotomy are needed.
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