Torticollis
Lauren Jones, Marina Castanedo & Randy
Eang
What is it?
• Also known as Wryneck
• Head and chin are tilted at opposite
angles, causing head to twist
• Asymmetrical Appearance
• Effected muscle:sternocleidomastoid
What is it?
• Can exist before or at birth
• Congenital Muscular Torticollis
• Can occur during childhood up through adult
age
• Acquired/Noncongenital Muscular Torticollis
• Both cause asymmetrical appearance and function in the
neck and head of those afflicted
Prevalence
• Less than .4% of newborns
• Torticollis does not prefer one side of
head or the other
• In CMT, ratio of boys to girls is 3:2
• Increased head size in male babies
Prevalence
• In adults, noncongenital muscular torticollis
has an average onset of 40 years old
• Females twice as likely afflicted than males
• Usually equal distribution between right and
left side of body afflicted
• Slightly more right torticollis in older female populations
Causes?
• Not well understood
• Almost 80 entities have been reported to
cause torticollis
• Common causes:
• Developmental disorders affecting
sternocleidomastoid muscle
• Imbalance in function of cervical muscles
• Other abnormalities in skull/cervical area
Other Causes
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Genetic defect
Infants position during pregnancy or delivery
Tumors in head or neck
Arthritis of neck
• Pseudotumors in infants
• Certain medications
• Genes
• More likely to be afflicted if family member had
torticollis or similar disorder
Symptoms
• Adults and Children:
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Abnormal contraction of the neck
Limited range of motion
Stiff neck muscles
Possible swelling and pain
• Can often be mistaken for more serious
condition
• See medical professional immediately
Symptoms
• Infants:
• Tilting of chin
• Small mass (pseudotumor)
in neck
• Small neck spasms
• Diagnosed before 1
month old = shorter
physical therapy
Prognosis
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Most helpful diagnosis is made early
Not life threatening
May self correct itself
May be chronic and reoccurring
Any complications may result from
compressed nerve roots
Treatments
• Stretching and lengthening affected
neck muscles
• Applying heat, massage, analgesics
• Can be combined with TENS
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
• Medical treatment—Bacolfen or Botox
• Injection every three months
Treatments
• Surgery in severe cases
• Patients whose pathology does not resolve
after 12 months of physical therapy or who
develops facial asymmetry
• Risk of injury to spinal nerves
Preventive Measures
• Nearly impossible to prevent
• Become familiar with symptoms
• Seek medical attention
• Other serious conditions may be confused
for Torticollis and are not treated correctly
Any Questions?