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Torticollis, or wry neck, is a condition in which the head is tilted toward one side (cervical rotation), and the chin is elevated and turned toward the opposite side (cervical extension).

Classification

Torticollis can be congenital or acquired.

Congenital muscular torticollis

The etiology of congenital muscular torticollis is unclear. Birth trauma or intrauterine malposition is also considered to cause damage to the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck. This results in a shortening or excessive contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, often with limited range of motion in both rotation and lateral bending. The head is typically tilted in lateral bending toward the affected muscle and rotated toward the opposite side.

The reported incidence of congenital torticollis is 0.3-2.0 %. Sometimes a mass (a sternomastiod tumor) in the affected muscle may be noted, this appears at the age of two to four weeks, it disappears gradually, but sometimes the muscle becomes fibrotic. It is likely to disappear within the first five to eight months of life.

The condition is treated initially with physical therapy, with stretching to correct the tightness, strengthening exercises to achieve muscular balance, handling to stimulate symmetry. A TOT Collar is sometimes used. About 5–10% require surgery,"surgical release" of the muscle if stretching fails.

Infants with torticollis have a higher risk for plagiocephaly. Altering the head position and using a pillow when supine helps as does giving a lot of tummy time when awake.

Other less common causes such as tumors, infections, ophthalmologic problems and other abnormalities should be ruled out. For example, ocular torticollis due to cranial nerve IV palsy should not be treated with physical therapy. In this situation, the torticollis is a neurologic adaptation designed to maintain binocularity. Treatment should be targeted at the extraocular muscle imbalance.

In general, if torticollis is not corrected facial asymmetry can develop. Head position should be corrected before adulthood (to about the age of 18 there can be improvement). Younger children show the best results.

Congenital torticollis develops in the infant but can be diagnosed at older ages, even in adults who were missed as infants/children.

The word torticollis means wry neck: Acquired torticollis is not the same as congenital torticollis. All ages can suffer from acquired torticollis.

Common treatments might involve a multi-phase process:
1) Low-impact exercise to increase strong form neck stability
2) Chiropractic manipulation of the neck.
3) Extended heat application.
4) Repetitive shiatsu massag

Evaluation of a child with torticollis begins with history taking to determine circumstances surrounding birth and any possibility of trauma or associated symptoms. Physical examination reveals decreased rotation and bending to the side opposite from the affected muscle. Some say that congenital cases more often involve the right side, but there is not complete agreement about this in published studies. Evaluation should include a thorough neurologic examination, and the possibility of associated conditions such as developmental dysplasia of the hip and clubfoot should be examined. Radiographs of the cervical spine should be obtained to rule out obvious bony abnormality, and MRI should be considered if there is concern about structural problems or other conditions.

Evaluation by an ophthalmologist should be considered in children to ensure that the torticollis is not caused by vision problems (IV cranial nerve palsy, nystagmus-associated "null position," etc.). Most cases in infants respond well to physical therapy. Other causes should be treated as noted above.

References

1. ^ Cheng JCY, Wong MWN, Tang SP, Chen TMK, MPhil, Shum SLF, Wong EMC. Clinical determinants of the outcome of manual stretching in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis in infants. Bone Joint Surg. 2001;83:679-687.
2. ^ Tang SF, Hsu KH, Wong AM Hsu CC, Chang CH. Logitudinal followup study of ultrasonography in congenital muscular torticollis. Clin Orthop. 2002;403:179-185.
3. ^ Hsu TC, Wang CL, Wong MK, Hsu KH, Tang Ft, Chen Ht. Correlation of clinical and ultrasonographic features in congenital muscular torticollis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999;80:637-641.
4. ^ Dressler D, Benecke R (November 2005). "Diagnosis and management of acute movement disorders". J. Neurol. 252 (11): 1299–306. doi:10.1007/s00415-005-0006-x. PMID 16208529. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-005-0006-x.

Extracted from Wikipedia. Current as of 10/09