Abstract
This randomized, double-blind and controlled clinical trial investigates how a diode laser lingual frenectomy can improve obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in pediatric patients. Background: Several authors have shown that a short lingual frenulum causes a reduction in incoming air flow and the relationship between OSAS and a short lingual frenulum. Methods: Thirty-two pediatric patients were equally randomly divided into a Study Group (SG) and a Control Group (CG). On each SG patient a polysomnography 1 (PSG1) and a lingual frenectomy were performed using a diode laser via Doctor Smile Wiser technology, power 7 W. After three months, a new polysomnography (PSG2) was performed to evaluate the lingual frenectomy efficacy in pediatric patients. The pain was assessed by a numerical rating scale (NRS) before and after surgery. The CG followed the same protocol without a lingual frenectomy but myofunctional and speech therapy were conducted to qualitatively and quantitatively improve the lingual functionality. In the SG, eight subjects (50%) had severe OSAS and eight had moderate (50%) while in the CG, three subjects had severe OSAS (18.8%) and thirteen had moderate (81.2%). Results: In the SG, 93.8% were classified as mild OSAS and 6.2% as moderate. In contrast, in the CG, 18.75% were classified as mild OSAS, 62.5% as moderate and 18.75% as severe. Conclusion: The study demonstrates how a lingual laser frenectomy can improve OSAS in pediatric patients.
Highlights
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) characterized by episodes of a complete or partial obstruction of the upper airways that disturbs the ventilation and sleep architecture
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a lingual frenectomy performed through diode lasers to improve the length of frenulum and the severity of OSAS in pediatric patients
Several studies assumed the existence of a relationship between OSAS and a short lingual frenulum but the real innovation that characterized this study was the results, which demonstrated a clear correlation between a short lingual frenulum and OSAS
Summary
OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) is sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) characterized by episodes of a complete or partial obstruction of the upper airways that disturbs the ventilation and sleep architecture. It is caused by various etiological factors linked to anatomical functional alterations that produce or contribute to the narrowing of the upper airways [1]. The diagnosis of OSAS is based on several symptoms and can be classified according to three degrees of severity: mild, moderate and severe. Conclusion: The study demonstrates how a lingual laser frenectomy can improve OSAS in pediatric patients
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