New surgical method of tongue reduction for macroglossia: technical note

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Macroglossia, or enlarged tongue, can cause significant cosmetic and functional issues, including speech delay and difficulty eating.
• Traditional surgical techniques for tongue reduction may lead to complications like tip excision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel central V-shaped excision technique for surgical tongue reduction.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of this technique in patients with macroglossia.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case review of 6 patients with macroglossia who underwent tongue reduction using the central V-shaped excision technique.
• Assessment of pre- and post-operative tongue shape, mobility, taste, and sensitivity, along with patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• All patients reported high satisfaction with tongue appearance and experienced no sensory or mobility issues.
• Objective evaluations confirmed normal tongue function, including mobility, taste, and sensitivity.
• No residual tongue protrusion, cosmetic concerns, or speech delays were observed post-surgery; no revision surgeries were needed.

Conclusions:

• The central V-shaped excision is an effective surgical technique for tongue reduction in macroglossia.
• This method achieves satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes while avoiding complications associated with other techniques.