Thermographic analysis of infants faces during breastfeeding before and after lingual frenotomy.
Midiane Gomes da Silva, Erissandra Gomes, Danielle Pereira de Lima and 9 others
PMID 41670093WHAT IT FOUND
Thermal imaging showed no significant temperature changes in infant facial muscles after frenotomy, despite improved breastfeeding scores.
The authors claim increased heat indicates better muscle engagement, but the quantitative data showed no statistical difference, making the thermographic finding unsupported.
Key findings
01Quantitative thermal imaging showed no significant temperature changes in the temporal, masseter, or buccinator muscles before and after frenotomy.
02Breastfeeding assessments and functional tongue scores improved significantly after frenotomy.
03The study lacked a control group, and evaluators were not blinded.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
There was no control group, so natural development or other factors could explain the improvements. The speech therapist evaluating the infants was not blinded to the pre- and post-procedure status. The study only assessed one side of the face and could not evaluate the suprahyoid region. The quantitative thermal data contradicted the qualitative interpretation of increased muscle activity.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the authors' claim that thermography reveals increased muscle engagement as proven. The quantitative data showed no significant temperature changes, so the link between frenotomy and specific facial muscle thermal patterns is not supported by this study.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →