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Pediatric Otolaryngology

Ankyloglossia and Lingual Frenotomy in Infants: Characterizing Sociodemographics

Monday, October 2, 2023
5:54 PM - 6:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: 207CD

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Tina K. Lam, BS

    Medical Student
    Medical College of Wisconsin
    Wauwatosa, WI, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • SV

    Stefan Vidovich, MD

    Resident Physician
    Medical College of Wisconsin
    Milwaukee, WI, United States

  • Jazzmyne A. Adams, MPH

    Director
    Medical College of Wisconsin-Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences
    Milwaukee, WI, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • DF

    David R. Friedland, MD PhD

    Professor
    Medical College of Wisconsin-Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

  • Sophie G. Shay, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Medical College of Wisconsin/Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
    Whitefish Bay, WI, United States

Disclosure(s):
Tina K. Lam, BS: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Sophie G. Shay, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Introduction: Ankyloglossia and lingual frenotomy have risen in incidence alongside the increased emphasis on breastfeeding and concerns regarding feeding and latching difficulties. This study sought to characterize the sociodemographics of patients diagnosed with ankyloglossia and of those who underwent lingual frenotomy.

Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study of infants (ages of 0-6 months) diagnosed with ankyloglossia between 2011 and 2021 at a tertiary pediatric medical center. Outcome measures were if patients were seen by pediatric otolaryngology and if they underwent lingual frenotomy. Descriptive statistics of demographic variables and odds ratios (OR [95% confidence interval, CI]) were calculated for the association with targeted clinical comorbidities (prematurity, extreme prematurity, and failure to thrive [FTT]). Regression analysis was used to correlate zip code population-level characteristics.

Results: Among 1992 infants who were diagnosed with ankyloglossia, 1253 (62.9%) were male, 1442 (72.4%) were White, and 1692 (84.9%) were non-Hispanic. Of the patients seen by a pediatric otolaryngologist, 6.5% were premature and 7.1% had FTT compared to 9.1% and 16.2%, respectively, of those not seeing otolaryngology. Infants with FTT had a greater likelihood of not seeing otolaryngology (OR: 2.54 [95% CI 1.74-3.72], p < 0.001) and not receiving a frenotomy (OR: 1.90 [95% CI 1.36-2.66], p < 0.001). Prematurity and extreme prematurity did not significantly correlate with either outcome. Population-level regression analyses based on zip code demonstrated positive correlations between lingual frenotomy rate and college education, proportion of white race, and median household income (all p< 0.001).

Conclusions: Infants diagnosed with ankyloglossia at our pediatric medical center were predominantly male, White, and non-Hispanic with population-level characteristics influencing lingual frenotomy rates. Patients with FTT were less likely to be seen by pediatric otolaryngology and undergo frenotomy, although further investigation to clarify this dichotomy would be merited.