Detection and treatment of torticollis in children

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Posted by Master, Doctor Vu Duy Chinh - Rehabilitation Doctor - Unit of Regenerative Medicine Clinic and Educational Psychology
There are many causes of torticollis in children, but the main cause is diseases of muscle groups in the neck, especially fibrosis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. If detected and treated early, torticollis will limit complications and have a better treatment capacity than late treatment. Therefore, parents need to pay attention to take their children to medical centers for examination and treatment.

1. What is torticollis in children?

Neck torticollis in young children with head tilted to the side, chin turned to the opposite side compared to the head. The disease can leave dangerous complications for young children, so parents need to pay close attention to early detection. The early detection and treatment of the disease will bring about high treatment efficiency and shorten the time.
The main cause of torticollis in children is the disease of the muscle groups in the neck, especially fibrosis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This is a phenomenon of partial fibrosis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle due to improper lying position in the fetus or some complications in obstetrics at birth, leading to limited range of motion of the cervical spine.

2. Detecting torticollis in young children

The detection of fibrocystic mass can be seen immediately after birth, feeling that the muscle on one side of the neck is stiff, the density is slightly firm, moves according to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, rapidly enlarges in the first few months, is not hot, red, and does not cause discomfort. crying in children. In addition, the child's neck movement is limited, the head is tilted to the side with the fibrous mass, and it is limited to tilt to the healthy side and rotate to the sides.
To see more clearly, when palpating both sides of the neck, one side of the neck can be found to be raised in the shape of a small hump and more tense than usual, children often look to one side. If a child has scoliosis due to a muscle defect that is not diagnosed and treated early, it will gradually cause secondary injuries in the child such as: cervical spine, cervical vertebrae may be deformed causing scoliosis, crossed eyes. , further a child's face may be flattened on one side, distorted head ...

Ultrasound of sternocleidomastoid muscle, bilateral trapezius muscle and functional exploratory neck software can help evaluate disease status and cause of neck torticollis. In the early stages, the neck mass may be fluid (hemorrhagic) but rarely, later stage ultrasound is fibrous tissue.
In addition, the child may be assigned to take X-ray of the cervical spine to evaluate the scoliosis in children detected late, when the sternocleidomastoid muscle has contracted much.

3. Treatment of torticollis in young children

In order to properly treat torticollis due to muscle defects, especially due to fibrosis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, it is first necessary to detect early and intervene in the early stages. The preferred method of choice is physiotherapy-rehabilitation. This is a safe and effective conservative treatment, if the child is detected and treated early, the success rate is > 90%.
The use of physical therapy methods that act directly on the injured muscle position to soften the fibrous mass, combine with exercise and stretching to maintain and increase the range of motion of the cervical spine, and prevent deformity. secondary occurs in the craniofacial and cervical spine.
In cases of sternal fibrosis, conservative treatment has failed, children come late, many fibrosis masses cause contraction of sternocleidomastoid muscle, restricting movement of the cervical spine, which should be considered for intervention. surgery. After the intervention, children still need rehabilitation exercises and posture correction. Wearing a soft neck brace is also an indication for supportive treatment to help children recover function and better adjust neck posture.

Early detection of torticollis will help children have a high chance of treating the disease in a short time. Therefore, when parents discover that their child has abnormal posture of the cervical spine and head, restricting rotation and rotation of the neck, it is necessary to take the child to see a specialist for diagnosis of the cause and intervention for treatment. Early treatment for best results.
At Vinmec Times City International General Hospital, it is currently conducting examination and consulting for treatment of neck torticollis caused by muscle defects in children and other subjects. Parents can contact and book an appointment with a doctor specializing in Rehabilitation: Master, Doctor Vu Duy Chinh - Department administrative phone: 02439743556, ext: 3083.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.