Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37608056›Full record

SynthesisPediatric research2024

Quantitative impact of frenotomy on breastfeeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Holly Cordray, Nikhila Raol, Geethanjeli N Mahendran, Ching Siong Tey, John Nemeth, Alastair Sutcliffe, Jenny Ingram, William G Sharp

Open access · greenAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pediatric research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
9.1field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Lingual Frenotomy in Breastfeeding Infants: An Umbrella Review.International journal of paediatric dentistry · 2026
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. 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 · 2026
    Review
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  7. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Holly Cordray *Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2659-0964
Nikhila Raol *Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA. nikhila.p.raol@emory.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-3748-2691
Geethanjeli N MahendranDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4515-7063
Ching Siong TeyChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1285-0072
John NemethEmory University Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Alastair SutcliffePopulation, Policy, and Practice Department, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8542-6155
Jenny IngramUniversity of Bristol, Bristol, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2366-008X
William G SharpDepartment of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6651-144X
Emory University · USEmory Healthcare · USMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · USUniversity College London · GBUniversity of Bristol · GB

Funding

Marcus Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSymptoms related to infant ankyloglossia/tongue-tie may deter mothers from breastfeeding, yet frenotomy is controversial.

methodsDatabases included PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from 1961-2023. Controlled trials and cohort studies with validated measures of surgical efficacy for breastfeeding outcomes were eligible. Meta-analyses synthesized data with inverse-variance weighting to determine standardized mean differences (SMD) between pre-/postoperative scores.

resultsTwenty-one of 1568 screened studies were included. Breastfeeding self-efficacy improved significantly post-frenotomy: medium effect after 5-10 days (SMD 0.60 [95% CI: 0.48, 0.71; P < 0.001]), large effect after 1 month (SMD 0.91 [CI: 0.79, 1.04; P < 0.001]). Nipple pain decreased significantly post-frenotomy: large effect after 5-15 days (SMD -1.10 [CI: -1.49, -0.70; P < 0.001]) and 1 month (SMD -1.23 [CI: -1.79, -0.67; P = 0.002]). Frenotomy had a medium effect on infant gastroesophageal reflux severity at 1-week follow-up (SMD -0.63 [CI: -0.95, -0.31; P = 0.008]), with continued improvement at 1 month (SMD -0.41 [CI: -0.78, -0.05; P = 0.04]). From LATCH scores, breastfeeding quality improved after 5-7 days by a large SMD of 1.28 (CI: 0.56, 2.00; P = 0.01).

conclusionsProviders should offer frenotomy to improve outcomes in dyads with ankyloglossia-associated breastfeeding difficulties. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO identifier CRD42022303838 . IMPACT: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal pain, infant latch, and infant gastroesophageal reflux significantly improve after frenotomy in mother-infant dyads with breastfeeding difficulties and ankyloglossia. Providers should offer frenotomy to improve breastfeeding outcomes in symptomatic mother-infant dyads who face challenges associated with ankyloglossia.

Indexed as

AnkyloglossiaGastroesophageal RefluxBreast FeedingFemaleHumansInfantLingual FrenumPainTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID37608056
OpenAlexW4386067072

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.