• Alastair Brookes and Douglas M Bowley.
• Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham B9 5SS, United Kingdom. Electronic address: alastair.brookes@doctors.net.uk.
• Early Hum. Dev. 2014 Nov 1; 90 (11): 765-8.

AbstractTongue tie or ankyloglossia is a congenital variation characterised by a short lingual frenulum which may result in restriction of tongue movement and thus impact on function. Tongue tie division (frenotomy) in affected infants with breastfeeding problems yields objective improvements in milk production and breastfeeding characteristics, including objective scoring measures, weight gain and reductions in maternal pain. For the majority of mothers, frenotomy appears to enhance maintenance of breastfeeding. Tongue tie division is a safe procedure with minimal complications. The commonest complication is minor bleeding. Recurrence leading to redivision occurs with rates of 0.003-13% reported; this appears to be more common with posterior than anterior ties. There are limited reports indicating that prophylactic frenotomy may promote subsequent speech development; however, evidence is currently insufficient to condone this practice and further good quality research into this area is warranted. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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