Tongue-tie releaseDoes the patient-experienced benefit differ depending on the symptoms before the surgery?

Abstract: Introduction: The most common symptom of ankyloglossia is breastfeeding problems. Lately, more attention has been given to problems beyond infancy, like with speech and mobility. There is limited research done in that area though, and there is no research made comparing indication groups with each other.Aim: To investigate if there is a difference in the self-experienced benefit of the tongue-tie release, in relation to the indication for cutting the tongue-tie.Methods: A retrospective survey of all patients who underwent a tongue-tie release in Örebro county under a period of two years. The patient, or their caregiver if the patient was under 18 years old, were contacted for a telephone survey. 73 patients completed the survey.Results: The results demonstrated no significant difference in self-experienced benefit between the indication-groups. 88% of all patients included in the study experienced benefit, 98% of these patients had a primary (n=57) or secondary (n=6) symptom that got better. The remaining 2% (n=1) experienced benefit despite any symptom relief because of the possible future benefit. The 12% that did not experience benefit did not experience any symptom relief from the surgery.Conclusions: The self-experienced benefit after the tongue-tie release was high in general, without differences between the indication-groups. It turned out to be important to ask for other symptoms than just the primary to see the whole picture. More research with a larger study population is encouraged.