Krivosheya

Torticollis: causes, symptoms, and treatment

Torticollis is a condition in which the head is tilted towards one of the sternocleidomastoid muscles, and also turned in the opposite direction due to scarring of the muscle. This condition may be congenital or acquired. In this article we will look at the causes of torticollis, its symptoms and treatment methods.

Causes of torticollis

Congenital torticollis can be caused by abnormal intrauterine development, damage to the soft tissues of the baby's neck during a difficult birth, or as a result of scarring on the neck after burns, wounds or inflammatory processes. The main symptom of congenital torticollis is a fixed tilt of the head towards the affected muscle, the back of the head is close to the shoulder of the same side, and the chin is raised and turned in the opposite direction.

Acquired torticollis can occur as a complication of burns, diseases of the cervical spine, or as a result of a scarring process. Often, torticollis develops in children with an elongated head shape, who lie with their head constantly tilted to the side.

Symptoms of torticollis

The main symptom of torticollis is tilting the head towards the affected muscle. Head movements may be limited but not painful. With congenital torticollis, head deviation is noticeable from the first days of a child’s life. In the absence of early treatment, torticollis may be accompanied by secondary deformations - facial asymmetry, curvature of the cervical spine.

Treatment of torticollis

Plastic surgery is used to treat torticollis. However, if the torticollis is not too severe, then you can do without surgery. Treatment for torticollis should begin at two months of age. The mother must learn the rules of corrective therapeutic exercises and neck massage. Therapeutic gymnastics should be performed several times a day, repeating each exercise for 5-10 minutes.

Therapeutic gymnastics is carried out as follows: for right-sided torticollis, the right hand is placed on the child’s chin, the left hand is placed on the back of the head (for left-sided, vice versa). The chin is turned towards the contracted muscle, and the head is tilted in the opposite direction, i.e. in the direction opposite from the affected muscle. Special devices such as orthoses or cervical ridges may also be used to help keep the head in the correct position.

If corrective exercises and massage do not help, then surgery may be required. During surgery, scars may be removed or the muscle may be stretched to return the head to its correct position. The operation may be recommended for both children and adults.

Overall, torticollis is a condition that can be successfully treated with timely referral to a specialist and proper treatment. Signs of torticollis need to be paid attention to from a very early age in order to begin treatment as soon as possible and avoid possible complications.