Torticollis

What is Torticollis?

When a baby is born, one of the exams that the doctor may perform in the hospital is to check for torticollis (which literally translated means “twisted neck”). Congenital torticollis is a muscular problem which is present in the infant at birth. The muscle on one side of the neck is tight and causes the head to tilt to that side. You may also feel a lump on the tight muscle as well. 

Why Does Torticollis Occur?

No one is certain as to why this problem occurs in some infants. Some people think torticollis occurs during delivery while others think it occurs while the child is developing in the womb. It is more common in first-born children and one in five children with torticollis also have developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). If your child has torticollis, be sure that his or her hips are examined as well.

What are the Symptoms of Torticollis?

• Head that is tilted to one side
• Lump felt over the tight muscle
• Decreased range of motion in the neck
• Flattening of the head or face due to rigidity of muscles and difficulty changing the head position

What are the Treatments for Torticollis?

If your infant is diagnosed with torticollis, they will usually be referred to an Orthopedic specialist for examination. At that time the doctor will give specific exercises and suggestions for helping to stretch the muscle. These include:

• Place the child in his or her crib facing a wall away from interesting objects, which encourages the infant to move the head to see them.
• Carry the child with his or her face away form yours, which will encourage the infant to move the head to face you.
• Turn and bend the infant's head slowly and hold the stretch. Do this with every diaper change to provide many opportunities to stretch the neck.
• If breast feeding the child, turn them from side to side, so that they have to turn the neck to reach the breast and feed.

The doctor may also prescribe physical therapy for the child. Surgery is an option that is only reserved for the a muscle that does not improve with conservative treatment and needs to be released and lengthened.