Frenotomy Provides Improved Direct Laryngoscopy Exposure in Select Adult Patients With Ankyloglossia.

Objective: To analyze the effects of lingual frenotomy on adults with restrictive ankyloglossia and difficult direct laryngoscopy exposure. Methods: A case series study was conducted. Restriction of tongue protrusion due to ankyloglossia was identified in 2 patients who had a history of suboptimal true vocal fold (TVF) exposure on direct laryngoscopy for phonomicrosurgery. Inadequate exposure of the vocal folds was achieved on direct laryngoscopy attempts with manual tongue protrusion. Mandibular tori were not present in these patients. An intraoperative lingual frenotomy was performed in both patients. Results: After frenotomy and with manual tongue protrusion, direct laryngoscopy exposure was substantially improved allowing for considerably more visualization of the anterior TVFs. Conclusion: Lingual frenulum procedures with manual tongue protrusion should be considered in select adult patients with restrictive ankyloglossia affecting optimal direct laryngoscopy exposure.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.