Płomiński, J.; Olesińska, J.; Kamelska-Sadowska, A.M.; Nowakowski, J.J.; Zaborowska-Sapeta, K. Congenital Muscular Torticollis—Current Understanding and Perinatal Risk Factors: A Retrospective Analysis. Healthcare2024, 12, 13.
Płomiński, J.; Olesińska, J.; Kamelska-Sadowska, A.M.; Nowakowski, J.J.; Zaborowska-Sapeta, K. Congenital Muscular Torticollis—Current Understanding and Perinatal Risk Factors: A Retrospective Analysis. Healthcare 2024, 12, 13.
Płomiński, J.; Olesińska, J.; Kamelska-Sadowska, A.M.; Nowakowski, J.J.; Zaborowska-Sapeta, K. Congenital Muscular Torticollis—Current Understanding and Perinatal Risk Factors: A Retrospective Analysis. Healthcare2024, 12, 13.
Płomiński, J.; Olesińska, J.; Kamelska-Sadowska, A.M.; Nowakowski, J.J.; Zaborowska-Sapeta, K. Congenital Muscular Torticollis—Current Understanding and Perinatal Risk Factors: A Retrospective Analysis. Healthcare 2024, 12, 13.
Abstract
Introduction. Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is an asymmetrical head positioning resulting from structural changes in the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) that occurs early in a child’s development period or due to perinatal trauma. Children with CMT exhibit a marked imbalance in tension between the SCMs. When the clinical picture is typical, an ultrasound scan is performed to reveal characteristic lesions, such as tissue fibrosis or post-traumatic changes. Early diagnosis of CMT in newborns and implementation of treatment offer the chance of a complete cure. Torticollis treatment aims to rebuild the SCM's normal function by restoring its anatomical length, normal cervical spine mobility and muscle flexibility to enable regular head movements. Surgical treatment is performed when conservative methods fail to improve the patient’s condition. Indications for surgery include marked shortening of the SCM, persistent fibrosis in the muscle, constant head and facial asymmetry, and rotation or lateral flexion in the cervical spine restricted by > 15°. After hip dislocations and foot deformities, pediatric orthopedics addresses torticollis as the third most common congenital anomaly. Aim. This study was a retrospective analysis of 111 children diagnosed and treated due to CMT. Methods. The following were determined: the relationship between the side of CMT location and the type of delivery (cc vs. natural), between the body weight at birth and the side of CMT location, between the extent of SCM thickening and the type of delivery, and the incidence of CMT depending on the order of delivery. Results and conclusions. The analysis showed that CMT was more common in boys 61(54%) than in girls 51(46%), which may be related to the greater birth weight in boys. Of the pediatric patients with CMT, 76% were primiparous. More often, children born via natural delivery had left-sided torticollis with a more significant broadening of the SCM on ultrasound scans than right-sided torticollis. Theories of torticollis development pathophysiology should be deepened, systematized, and further researched.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
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