A Comparison Study of the Surgical Outcome According to the Surgical Technique

설소대단축증의 수술적 방법에 따른 비교

Background and Objectives : Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is the result of a short, fibrous lingual frenulum or highly attached geioglossus muscle. This condition may cause sucking and swallowing problems, articulation disorders, interference with the tongue's cleansing action, increased the potential for caries, and inability to lick the lips, play a wind instrument, and 'french kiss' Treatment is surgical procedure. In the most cases, horizontal sectioning and mucosal suture(the conventional procedure) is preferred, but in some cases, the Z-plastic procedure is effective. This study is aimed to compare the result of the two procedures. Materials and Methods : Twenty tongue-tie patients underwent operation. Ten patients were treated with the Z-plastic procedure and ten patients were treated with the conventional method randomly. We checked preoperative mobile tongue length, postoperative mobile tongue length, operation time and postoperative wound states. Results : Among the 20 cases of tongue-tie, 2 cases are excepted due to pre-operative state, thus we compared 18 cases of tongue-tie patients. There is no statistically significant difference between the two procedures except in operation time. The Z-plastic procedure apparently needs a little more operating time. Conclusion : Patients treated with the Z-plastic procedures appeared to have better outcomes, but the data shows no statistical significance except in operating time. Consequently, the Z-plastic procedure is indicated in a limited amount of cases.