Breastfeeding and reflux improvement, the effect of frenulotomy

ISRCTN ISRCTN64428423
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN64428423
Secondary identifying numbers METc 2014/375
Submission date
30/08/2017
Registration date
21/09/2017
Last edited
26/01/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding babies for at least for six months. Unfortunately, due to breast-feeding problems, this is often not possible. There are many different causes of breast- feeding problems and include poor weight gain necessitating supplementation, poor latch, maternal nipple pain, and structural restrictions like a tongue tie (ankyloglossia) and/or lip tie. This is when the tongue has limited movement due to strip of skin that connects the baby’s tongue to the mouth is shorter than usual. Previous studies showed that a tongue tie (ankyloglossia) and/or a lip tie (tethered superior labial frenum) can cause altered latch and sucking mechanics. The suckling process is complex and multi- factorial, and dysfunction may cause diverse signs and symptoms in the breastfed baby. A frenectomy is a procedure that removed the piece of skin to allow more movement in the tongue. The aim of this study is to examine the effect on breastfeeding improvement and reflux problems after a frenectomy of ankyloglossia and/or tethered maxillary labial frenula.

Who can participate?
Newborns under six months with untreated ankyloglossia and/or tethered maxillary labial frenula with breastfeeding (and reflux) problems.

What does the study involve?
Participants are asked to fill in questionnaires to examine breastfeeding improvement,
reflux improvement and to describe pain during breastfeeding. Prior to the surgery a small amount of topical anesthetic cream (a numbing cream) is placed on the tongue and/or lip tie. Participants then receive the frenulotomy with diathermy done to the standard procedure. Participants are followed up was after one week, one month and six months with the same questionnaires.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits or risks with participating in the study, as the procedure is part of the standard procedure treating a tongue or lip tie.

Where is the study run from?
University Medical Centre Groningen (Switzerland)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2017 to December 2018

Who is funding the study?
University Medical Centre Groningen (Switzerland)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Kirsten Slagter
info@boefjesstudie.nl

Study website

Contact information

Dr Kirsten Slagter
Scientific

University Medical Centre Groningen
Hanzeplein 1
Groningen
9700RB
Netherlands

Phone +31 503 128203
Email info@boefjesstudie.nl

Study information

Study designSingle centre prospective observational study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Participant information sheet can be found at the following website: www.boefjesstudie.nl
Scientific titleBreastfeeding improvement after frenectomy tongue- and lip tie
Study acronymBOEFjes study
Study hypothesisThe aim of this study is to examine the effect on breastfeeding improvement and reflux problems after a frenectomy of ankyloglossia and/or tethered maxillary labial frenula.
Ethics approval(s)Medical Ethical Board of the University Medical Centre Groningen, 11/09/2014, ref: METc 2014/375
ConditionNewborns with untreated ankyloglossia and/or tethered maxillary labial frenula with breastfeeding (and reflux) problems.
InterventionStudy enrollment and informed consent were completed subsequent to standard surgical consent. Participants were orally examined if restrictions were present and standardized classification systems were used to describe frenula anatomy. Breastfeeding mothers were asked to fill in questionnaires to examine Breastfeeding improvement ( BSES-SF (Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form questionnaire)), Reflux improvement (I-GERQ-R (Infant-Gastroesophagal Reflux Questionnaire- Revised)) and to describe pain during breastfeeding with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Prior to the surgery a small amount of topical anesthetic cream was placed on the tongue and/or lip tie.

Participants receive a surgical procedure called a frenulotomy of a tied tong tie and/ or lip tie. Frenectomy of the untreated ankyloglossia and/or tethered maxillary labial frenula. The frenulotomy is performed by using diathermy. The duration of the surgery is 10 seconds with the use of surface anesthesia, and the follow-up for all patients is after one week, one month and 6 months. Participants are followed up to see if breastfeeding has improved using the same questionnaires.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureBreastfeeding improvement is measured using the BSES-SF (Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form) questionnaire at one week, one month and six months.
Secondary outcome measures1. Reflux improvement is emasured using the I-GERQ-R (Infant-Gastroesophagal Reflux Questionnaire- Revised) at one week, one month and six months
2. Pain during breastfeeding is measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at one week, one month and six months.
Overall study start date01/09/2017
Overall study end date01/12/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupNeonate
SexBoth
Target number of participants152
Total final enrolment175
Participant inclusion criteria1. Newborns under 6 months
2. Are breast fed
3. Untreated ankyloglossia and/or tethered maxillary labial frenula
Participant exclusion criteria1. Older then 6 months
2. Premature born
3. Unhealthy
4. Formula fed
5. Already revised ankyloglossia and/or tethered maxillary labial frenula
Recruitment start date01/10/2017
Recruitment end date01/06/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centre

University Medical Centre Groningen
Hanzeplein 1
Groningen
9700 RB
Netherlands

Sponsor information

University Medical Centre Groningen
Hospital/treatment centre

Hanzeplein 1
Groningen
9700RB
Netherlands

Website www.umcg.nl
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03cv38k47

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

University Medical Centre Groningen

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/12/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal one year after the trials. A short summary of the protocol in Dutch is online at www.boefjesstudie.nl
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from dr.K.W.Slagter, DDS,PhD at info@boefjesstudie.nl

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/12/2020 26/01/2021 Yes No

Editorial Notes

26/01/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.