Comparison of simple frenotomy with 4-flap Z-frenuloplasty in treatment for ankyloglossia with articulation difficulty: A prospective randomized study

Objective: To compare the surgical outcomes of simple frenotomy and the 4-flap Z-frenuloplasty according to the articulation test values and tongue-tie classification in patients with ankyloglossia with articulation difficulty. Study design: prospective randomized study. Setting: Tertiary academic center. Subjects: and methods: Children with ankyloglossia with articulation difficulty were randomly divided into 2 groups for surgical treatment. Patients were evaluated for the tongue-tie classification and articulation test before surgery. Three months after the operation, the frenulum classification and articulation test were re-evaluated to compare the differences in surgical outcome between the two surgical methods. Results: Out of 37 patients, 19 underwent the 4-flap Z-frenuloplasty and 18, the simple frenotomy. No differences were observed in the baseline characteristics of the patients assigned to both groups. Changes in the tongue-tie classification and improvement in the articulation test results were observed with both the surgical methods. Both surgical groups had significant improvement in the speech articulation test (consonants) but there was no difference in the speech outcomes between the surgical groups. Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in the surgical outcome between the two surgical methods, ankyloglossia patients showed improvement in a Korean speech articulation test 3 months after undergoing surgery to release the lingual frenulum.