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Congenital torticollis

Contents

Definition

  • Torticollis is a common term for various conditions of head and neck dystonia which displays specific variations in head movement
  • Torticollis results in a fixed or dynamic posturing of the head and neck in tilt, rotation, and flexion
  • Spasms of the sternocleidomastoideus, trapezius and other neck muscles, usually more prominent on one side than the other, cause a turning or tipping of the head.
  • There are many underlying causes which should be explored and ruled out as some are severe and life threatening
  • Congenital torticollis
    • Babies which are born with a painless contracture of the sternocleidomastoideus

 

Causes

  • Hemi-atlas, aplasia of the posterior arch of atlas, assimilliation of the atlas and extensive fusion of the lower cervical vertebrae12
    • Congenital anomaly in the formation of the first cervical vertebra

Observation

  • Neck is fixed in side flexion towards the affected side and rotation away from it

References

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3944156/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3175860/