Evaluation of the Effects of High-level Laser and Electro-cautery in Lingual Frenotomy Surgeries in Infants

Summary

Ankyloglossia is an anomaly that is characterized by an abnormally short, thick or thin lingual frenulum that can restrict the movements of the tongue and has been identified as one of the factors that can negatively interfere with breastfeeding, decreasing the ability of the newborn to make a clamp proper. According to the Ministry of Health in Brazil, the percentage of newborns who present this anomaly is 3% to 16%. The objective of the study will be to evaluate the release of the lingual frenulum through the lingual frenotomy performed with a high level diode laser or with an electro cautery. Methods: The present study will be a blind randomized controlled clinical trial, in which 56 volunteers, infants aged 0 to 3 months, with normal health status, who are breastfeeding, diagnosed with ankyloglossia and indication for surgery, will do lingual frenotomy. Those responsible for the children will be informed about the study procedures and after signing the Free and Informed Consent Form, authorizing them to participate in the study. The non-blinded researcher will conduct the evaluation, screening and procedures, and another blinded researcher will be the evaluator 15 days after the procedure. The distribution of volunteers in the groups will be random and randomized: Surgery Group with electro cautery (G1- EC) and Surgery Group with high power diode laser (G2-L). The procedures for patient preparation, asepsis and infection control will be strictly followed in accordance with biosafety rules. In both groups the infants will be submitted to anamnesis, clinical evaluation and standardized photograph of the lingual frenulum region before the surgical procedure and application of the Bristol frenulum evaluation protocol, the nursing mother will be submitted to the evaluation of the VAS of pain during breastfeeding, before, shortly after and 15 days after the surgical procedure for the evaluation of the result of the lingual frenotomy. Discussion: Ankyloglossia can negatively impact breastfeeding. The lingual frenotomy procedure can be performed using various surgical techniques. The use of high-power laser for this purpose has been identified as an effective resource in the incision of the lingual frenulum, with advantages in the trans-operative period, less bleeding and better visualization of the surgical field, and in the post-operative period, with reduction of edema, pain and inflammation, quality of tissue repair and patient comfort.

Conditions

• Lingual Frenum
• High Power Laser
• Breast Feeding

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Electro cautery surgery

Pre-anesthetics with therapeutic topic (benzocaine) will be administered and, as an anesthetic, or use of anesthetic drops (benzocaine or tetracaine) or local infiltrative anesthesia (2% lidocaine 1: 100,000 with adrenaline). The surgery will be carried out with cauterization for incision of the lingual brake, division of the brake fibers and release, removing the brake fibers that are stored in the anterior ventral free parts of the tongue until reaching the base of the tongue, which are removed or cleaned, lingual movement, and the anterior axis of the tongue is repositioned or lingual brake in that region. No sutures will be performed and should be oriented on the formation of a pseudo-membranous repair plate in the second intention that will be formed between the first and the third day after surgery. Postoperative care: Guidance will be given to the person responsible for not bringing objects to the mouth that may hurt.

PROCEDURE

High power diode laser surgery

Pre-anesthetics with therapeutic topic (benzocaine) and as anesthetic or use of anesthetic eye drops (benzocaine or tetracaine) or local infiltrative anesthesia (2% lidocaine 1: 100,000 with adrenaline) will be administered. The surgery will be performed with a high power diode laser (TW Surgical, MMOptics - São Carlos - Brazil). 808 nm wavelength, which can be operated in continuous or interrupted mode. Wattages from 1 to 1.5 W, up to a maximum of 2 W, can be used and must carefully respect the histological characteristics of the target tissue and the signs of overheating and carbonization, so that the choice of parameters is dynamic and very dependent on experience, mastery and care for the operator. Preoperative care: Guidance will be given to the person responsible for not bringing objects to the mouth that may hurt.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nove de Julho

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Max Age

3 Months

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-09-03

Primary Completion

2021-09-01

Completion

2021-11-03