2
|
Knight M, Ramakrishnan R, Ratushnyak S, Rivero-Arias O, Bell J, Bowler U, Buchanan P, Carter C, Cole C, Hewer O, Hurd M, King A, Juszczak E, Linsell L, Long AM, Mottram L, Murray D, Oddie S, Quigley M, Stalker V, Stanbury K, Welsh R, Hardy P. Frenotomy with breastfeeding support versus breastfeeding support alone for infants with tongue-tie and breastfeeding difficulties: the FROSTTIE RCT. Health Technol Assess 2023; 27:1-73. [PMID: 37839892 PMCID: PMC10591207 DOI: 10.3310/wbbw2302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tongue-tie can be diagnosed in 3-11% of babies, with some studies reporting almost universal breastfeeding difficulties, and others reporting very few feeding difficulties that relate to the tongue-tie itself, instead noting that incorrect positioning and attachment are the primary reasons behind the observed breastfeeding difficulties and not the tongue-tie itself. The only existing trials of frenotomy are small and underpowered and/or include only very short-term or subjective outcomes. Objective To investigate whether frenotomy is clinically and cost-effective to promote continuation of breastfeeding at 3 months in infants with breastfeeding difficulties diagnosed with tongue-tie. Design A multicentre, unblinded, randomised, parallel group controlled trial. Setting Twelve infant feeding services in the UK. Participants Infants aged up to 10 weeks referred to an infant feeding service (by a parent, midwife or other breastfeeding support service) with breastfeeding difficulties and judged to have tongue-tie. Interventions Infants were randomly allocated to frenotomy with standard breastfeeding support or standard breastfeeding support without frenotomy. Main outcome measures Primary outcome was any breastmilk feeding at 3 months according to maternal self-report. Secondary outcomes included mother's pain, exclusive breastmilk feeding, exclusive direct breastfeeding, frenotomy, adverse events, maternal anxiety and depression, maternal and infant NHS health-care resource use, cost-effectiveness, and any breastmilk feeding at 6 months of age. Results Between March 2019 and November 2020, 169 infants were randomised, 80 to the frenotomy with breastfeeding support arm and 89 to the breastfeeding support arm from a planned sample size of 870 infants. The trial was stopped in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic due to withdrawal of breastfeeding support services, slow recruitment and crossover between arms. In the frenotomy with breastfeeding support arm 74/80 infants (93%) received their allocated intervention, compared to 23/89 (26%) in the breastfeeding support arm. Primary outcome data were available for 163/169 infants (96%). There was no evidence of a difference between the arms in the rate of breastmilk feeding at 3 months, which was high in both groups (67/76, 88% vs. 75/87, 86%; adjusted risk ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.16). Adverse events were reported for three infants after surgery [bleeding (n = 1), salivary duct damage (n = 1), accidental cut to the tongue and salivary duct damage (n = 1)]. Cost-effectiveness could not be determined with the information available. Limitations The statistical power of the analysis was extremely limited due to not achieving the target sample size and the high proportion of infants in the breastfeeding support arm who underwent frenotomy. Conclusions This trial does not provide sufficient information to assess whether frenotomy in addition to breastfeeding support improves breastfeeding rates in infants diagnosed with tongue-tie. Future work There is a clear lack of equipoise in the UK concerning the use of frenotomy, however, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the procedure still need to be established. Other study designs will need to be considered to address this objective. Trial registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN 10268851. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Programme (project number 16/143/01) and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 27, No. 11. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. The funder had no role in study design or data collection, analysis and interpretation. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marian Knight
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rema Ramakrishnan
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Svetlana Ratushnyak
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Oliver Rivero-Arias
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jennifer Bell
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ursula Bowler
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Phyll Buchanan
- PPI representative, The Breastfeeding Network, Paisley, UK
| | | | - Christina Cole
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Oliver Hewer
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Madeleine Hurd
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andy King
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ed Juszczak
- Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Louise Linsell
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anna-May Long
- Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Linda Mottram
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David Murray
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sam Oddie
- Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - Maria Quigley
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Victoria Stalker
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kayleigh Stanbury
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Welsh
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Pollyanna Hardy
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
González Garrido MDP, Garcia-Munoz C, Rodríguez-Huguet M, Martin-Vega FJ, Gonzalez-Medina G, Vinolo-Gil MJ. Effectiveness of Myofunctional Therapy in Ankyloglossia: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12347. [PMID: 36231647 PMCID: PMC9566693 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ankyloglossia is a pathology of the tongue in which the frenulum appears anchored to the floor of the mouth. The treatment of choice for this pathology is frenectomy, but myofunctional therapy is emerging in recent years as a complement to surgical intervention. This systematic review aims to synthesize the scientific evidence and assess its quality regarding the use of myofunctional therapy in ankyloglossia. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Pubmed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched. Study quality was determined using the PEDro scale, STROBE statement and single-case experimental design scale. Eleven studies were selected. Based on the studies included in this review, surgery is more effective than myofunctional therapy, although better results are achieved if both are combined. Improvements have been found in maternal pain, weight gain of babies, duration of breastfeeding, tongue mobility, strength and endurance, sleep apnea, mouth breathing and snoring, quality of life, clenching teeth, myofascial tension, pain after surgery and speech sound production. These findings must be taken with caution because of the small number of articles and their quality. Future clinical trials using larger sample sizes and with higher methodological quality are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11003 Cadiz, Spain
- Rehabilitation Clinical Management Unit, Interlevels-Intercenters Hospital Puerta del Mar, Hospital Puerto Real, Cadiz Bay-La Janda Health District, 11006 Cadiz, Spain
| | | | - Gloria Gonzalez-Medina
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11003 Cadiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11003 Cadiz, Spain
- CTS-986 Physical Therapy and Health (FISA), University Institute of Research in Social Sustainable Development (INDESS), 11003 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Maria Jesus Vinolo-Gil
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11003 Cadiz, Spain
- Rehabilitation Clinical Management Unit, Interlevels-Intercenters Hospital Puerta del Mar, Hospital Puerto Real, Cadiz Bay-La Janda Health District, 11006 Cadiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11003 Cadiz, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Douglas P. Re-thinking lactation-related nipple pain and damage. WOMEN'S HEALTH (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 18:17455057221087865. [PMID: 35343816 PMCID: PMC8966064 DOI: 10.1177/17455057221087865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Nipple pain is a common reason for premature cessation of breastfeeding. Despite the benefits of breastfeeding for both infant and mother, clinical support for problems such as maternal nipple pain remains a research frontier. Maternal pharmaceutical treatments, and infant surgery and bodywork interventions are commonly recommended for lactation-related nipple pain without evidence of benefit. The pain is frequently attributed to mammary dysbiosis, candidiasis, or infant anatomic anomaly (including to diagnoses of posterior or upper lip-tie, high palate, retrognathia, or subtle cranial nerve abnormalities). Although clinical protocols universally state that improved fit and hold is the mainstay of treatment of nipple pain and wounds, the biomechanical parameters of pain-free fit and hold remain an omitted variable bias in almost all clinical breastfeeding research. This article reviews the research literature concerning aetiology, classification, prevention, and management of lactation-related nipple-areolar complex (NAC) pain and damage. Evolutionary and complex systems perspectives are applied to develop a narrative synthesis of the heterogeneous and interdisciplinary evidence elucidating nipple pain in breastfeeding women. Lactation-related nipple pain is most commonly a symptom of inflammation due to repetitive application of excessive mechanical stretching and deformational forces to nipple epidermis, dermis and stroma during milk removal. Keratinocytes lock together when mechanical forces exceed desmosome yield points, but if mechanical loads continue to increase, desmosomes may rupture, resulting in inflammation and epithelial fracture. Mechanical stretching and deformation forces may cause stromal micro-haemorrhage and inflammation. Although the environment of the skin of the nipple-areolar complex is uniquely conducive to wound healing, it is also uniquely exposed to environmental risks. The two key factors that both prevent and treat nipple pain and inflammation are, first, elimination of conflicting vectors of force during suckling or mechanical milk removal, and second, elimination of overhydration of the epithelium which risks moisture-associated skin damage. There is urgent need for evaluation of evidence-based interventions for the elimination of conflicting intra-oral vectors of force during suckling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Douglas
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- General Practice Clinical Unit, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Possums & Co., Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Pamela Douglas, c/o Possums & Co., PO Box 5139, Brisbane, West End QLD 4101, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|