Assessment of tongue structure and function in infants for the diagnosis of ankyloglossia: A systematic review

IF 1.3 4区医学 Q3 OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology Pub Date : 2025-07-11 DOI:10.1016/j.ijporl.2025.112485

Emma Necus , Mary Claessen , Neville Hennessey , Sharon Smart

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Ankyloglossia, commonly referred to as tongue tie, has become a topic of increasing interest for health care professionals and families. Global data reports a significant increase in surgical intervention to treat ankyloglossia. It is essential that professionals can identify ankyloglossia in infants accurately and reliably as a basis for providing evidence-based recommendations and intervention, and to understand better its potential impact and outcomes for infants and children.

Aims

The systematic review aimed to (i) identify assessments of tongue structure and function used to diagnose ankyloglossia in infants from birth to 12 months; (ii) evaluate the psychometric properties of these tools, and (iii) identify a comprehensive assessment tool based on the review's findings.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Systems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used to guide this systematic review. Searches for peer-reviewed articles were conducted on five electronic databases: Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ProQuest, Web of Science (WOS), Medline and Maternal and Infant Care (OVID).

Results

A total of 117 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in a narrative synthesis of extracted data. Nine assessment tools were identified with varying parameters of appearance and function included, as well as inconsistency in reporting of reliability and validity. Few studies used a measure of feeding as a diagnostic feature when identifying ankyloglossia in study participants.

Conclusion

Based on the findings from this review, the Lingual Frenulum Protocol for Infants (LFPI) had the most reported reliability and validity for the assessment of tongue structure and function and is the most comprehensive tool for ankyloglossia diagnosis. Other tools are useful screeners in clinical practice, but do not provide an in-depth assessment of feeding function. The literature overall supports the notion that a comprehensive assessment of both structure and function, including feeding impact, is required to diagnose ankyloglossia. Based on this evaluation, recommendations for surgical and/or non-surgical intervention pathways can then be considered.

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评估婴儿舌结构和功能诊断强直性咬合：一个系统的回顾

dankyloglossia，通常被称为舌结，已经成为卫生保健专业人员和家庭越来越感兴趣的话题。全球数据报告了手术干预治疗强直性咬合的显著增加。至关重要的是，专业人员能够准确可靠地识别婴儿的强直性咬合，作为提供循证建议和干预的基础，并更好地了解其对婴儿和儿童的潜在影响和结果。本系统综述旨在(i)确定用于诊断出生至12个月婴儿强直性咬合的舌结构和功能评估；（ii）评估这些工具的心理测量特性，以及（iii）根据审查结果确定综合评估工具。方法采用系统评价和荟萃分析首选报告系统（PRISMA）指南指导本系统评价。在五个电子数据库中检索同行评议的文章：护理与联合健康文献（CINAHL）、ProQuest、Web of Science （WOS）、Medline和母婴护理（OVID）。结果共有117项研究符合纳入标准，并被纳入提取数据的叙述性综合。确定了9种评估工具，包括不同的外观和功能参数，以及可靠性和有效性报告的不一致。很少有研究在确定研究参与者的紧直性咬合时，使用进食测量作为诊断特征。结论基于本综述的研究结果，婴儿舌系带方案（LFPI）在评估舌结构和功能方面具有最高的信度和效度，是诊断强直性咬合最全面的工具。其他工具在临床实践中是有用的筛选器，但不能提供对喂养功能的深入评估。文献总体上支持这样一种观点，即诊断强直性咬合需要对结构和功能进行综合评估，包括进食影响。基于此评估，可以考虑手术和/或非手术干预途径的建议。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology 医学-耳鼻喉科学

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

6.70%

发文量

276

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The purpose of the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology is to concentrate and disseminate information concerning prevention, cure and care of otorhinolaryngological disorders in infants and children due to developmental, degenerative, infectious, neoplastic, traumatic, social, psychiatric and economic causes. The Journal provides a medium for clinical and basic contributions in all of the areas of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. This includes medical and surgical otology, bronchoesophagology, laryngology, rhinology, diseases of the head and neck, and disorders of communication, including voice, speech and language disorders.