Ankyloglosson

Classification according to ICD-10
Q38.1	Ankyloglosson Shortening of the ligament of the tongue
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019)

Ankyloglosson , also ankyloglossia , ankyloglossum in medicine refers to a congenital developmental disorder of the tongue , in which the tip of the tongue is fixed to the floor of the mouth by a frenulum linguae that is too tight and too far forward . The restricted mobility of the tongue can lead to difficulties in breastfeeding and, later, disturbances in sound formation when speaking. Treatment is easy and uncomplicated by severing the ligament of the tongue.

frequency

Since there are no standardized diagnostic criteria for this malformation, the frequency information also fluctuates in the various studies. In a Canadian review article, the occurrence from various publications was summarized as 4.2–10.7%. Around every fourth mother of an infant with ankyloglossone has persistent pain in the nipples or difficulty putting on her child compared to 3% of mothers of children with a regular tongue.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Shortened ligament of tongue with tying of the tongue tip

By definition, the frenulum appears unusually short and thick, which can give the tongue a heart-shaped contour when it is stuck out. The mobility of the tongue is restricted so that it cannot, for example, be stretched over the lower tooth bar, let alone over the lower lip. Movements to the side or upwards are also restricted. However, there are no generally recognized diagnostic criteria, so that the diagnosis is to a certain extent left to the subjective perception of the examiner. Therefore, some authors consider it useful to use possible functional disorders, such as difficulties in breast feeding and persistent pain or even injuries to the nipples in the breastfeeding mother, for diagnosis rather than just the shape of the tongue and the appearance of the frenulum.

therapy

For treatment, it is possible to sever the ligament of the tongue largely without complications. However, if the children are older than four months, anesthesia is recommended, whereas the procedure for newborns can also be carried out without anesthesia. While all of the studies cited in the Canadian review had different criteria by which to measure success, all showed an improvement in the features examined after the procedure. No significant complications were reported in any of the studies.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} L. M. Segal et al .: Prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of ankyloglossia. Methodic review. In: Can Fam Physician. 2007, 53, pp. 1027-1033.
2. ^ DMB Hall, MJ Renfrew: Tongue tie. Common problem or old wives' tale? In: Arch Dis Child 2005; 90, pp. 1211-1215.
3. ↑ JL Ballard et al.: Ankyloglossia: Assessment, Incidence, and Effect of Frenuloplasty on the Breastfeeding Dyad. In: Pediatrics. 2002; 110, p. E63 full text online (Eng.)

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !