Randomised controlled trials of tongue tie division
| Study | Design | Outcome | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogan et al13 | N=57 RCT | 96% (27 of 28) of the infants randomised to tongue tie division improved soon after the procedure as compared to 3% (1 out of 29) of the infant in the control group | Tongue tie division was immediately offered to the control group and there was no attempt to mask treatment |
| Dollberg et al14 | N=25 Double-blinded crossover RCT. | Decreased nipple pain scores and improved latching scores, immediately following division as compared to a sham procedure | Small numbers; no comment on impact of feeding overall |
| Buryk et al15 | N=58 Single-blinded RCT | Significantly greater reduction in nipple pain scores and improvement in breastfeeding scores, immediately following division compared to controls | All but one babies in the control group underwent frenulotomy within 2 weeks of the initial sham procedure. |
| Berry et al8 | N=60 RCT | Attempts made to mask treatment. 78% of mothers whose babies had division reported an immediate improvement in feeding; however, 47% of mothers in the control group also reported an immediate improvement in feeding (p<0.02). | The rate of immediate improvement in the control group perhaps demonstrates the placebo effect that some feel is inevitably associated with the undertaking of a surgical procedure such as this in an infant. The ‘non-divided’ babies were offered (and underwent) frenulotomy after the first ‘post-procedural’ feed, irrespective of perceived alteration of breast feeding. |
| Emond et al7 | N=107 RCT | Primary outcome was a LATCH score at 5 days: no difference in frenotomy or intervention groups. Reported breastfeeding self-efficacy improved | Excluded babies assessed as having severe tongue tie. Excluded babies >2 weeks old. The majority (85%) of the control group underwent frenotomy after 5 days. |
LATCH, Latch, Audible swallowing, nipple Type, Comfort, Hold.