Congenital Muscular Torticollis: A current Concept Review

Abstract

Torticollis is often characterized by a unilateral head tilt and rotation of the chin to the opposite side. This pathology is believed to arise from contracted, shortened, or deformed sternocleidomastoid muscle. However, torticollis is not a formal diagnosis but is clinically viewed as a sequela of many other conditions. Torticollis can be categorized as acquired or congenital; the latter presents clinically shortly after birth, while acquired torticollis presents at any age. For this article’s purpose, we will focus on relevant clinical approaches to Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT). The early diagnosis and treatment of CMT lead to a better prognosis. The surgical interventions in the literature, such as the release of the sternocleidomastoid and z-lengthening, are still controversial in their outcomes. Therefore, this review will evaluate the data on operative and non-operative treatments of CMT to provide insight on how to improve patient outcomes.