An Absent Lingual Frenulum in a Non-syndromic Premature Infant

Abstract

The lingual frenulum (LF) is a fold of tissue that connects the tongue to the oral cavity's floor. Abnormal frenula are associated with speech alterations. The absence of the LF is associated with Ehler's Danlos syndrome (EDS). In this case report, we present a premature infant incidentally found to have an absent lingual frenulum, with recurrent desaturations during feeding. The desaturations were believed to be due to the absent lingual frenulum, but they resolved after one month without treatment and were then attributed to apnea of prematurity. Whole exome sequence showed no genetic disorders. The infant is now doing well with no interventions. An absent lingual frenulum warrants molecular genetic testing for EDS. However, it does not warrant any treatment; special considerations are only required during intubation.