Unresolved Congenital Torticollis and Its Consequences: A Report of 2 Cases

Objective: Torticollis is a deformity characterized by the lateral flexion of the head to the arm on the side of the localization of deformity and its rotation on the opposite side. The aim of this paper is to identify the clinical characteristics that have an impact on the progression of the congenital muscular cramping, as well as to show the role of kinesitherapy in the treatment of torticollis.Methods: The research was conducted in the “Therapy” - Physical Therapy Clinic in Pristina, in the 2-year period since February 2014 until 2016. The total number of infants diagnosed with torticollis is 160, ranging from 0 to 9 months. At the beginning of the research, the examinations of all infants were performed, all the necessary tests, measurements, and motor functions. Afterward, they were rehabilitated for 3 consecutive weeks with 5 sessions per week, a total of 15 sessions for each. After the rehabilitation was completed, over again, the same tests were made as it was done in the beginning. Questionnaires were completed on the first and last visit for all infants.Results: In the first visit of the infants’ examination, there was no significant difference between the groups (Chi-test=0.96, p=0.1), whereas in the second examination, after 15 rehabilitation sessions, there was a significant difference in improvement of all the treated groups with kinesiotherapy. Significant result was achieved in mobility where at the beginning of the treatment, there was a very large limitation of neck mobility (different mean = −31.0±10.0.95% CI: 33.7-−28.2, p<0.001). A small limitation of mobility remained only among some third-degree infants in the 6-9 month age group because of the time appearance for physical treatment was delayed (different mean = −27.8±12.6, 95%, CI: 31.2-−24.4, p<0.001).Conclusion: From the results of our research on kinesiotherapy with infant toddlers with torticollis, we conclude that kinesitherapy has a primary and very successful effect on the treatment of babies with muscular torticollis.

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EFFICIENCY OF AN EARLY INTERVENTION WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY ON AN INFANT WITH CONGENITAL TORTICOLLIS

GYMNASIUM ◽

10.29081/gsjesh.2016.17.2.13 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol XVII (2) ◽

Author(s):

Marinela Rață ◽

Georgiana Frunzete

Keyword(s):

Physical Therapy ◽

Infant Development ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Sternocleidomastoid Muscle ◽

Normal Infant ◽

Neurological Development ◽

Initial Hypothesis ◽

Congenital Torticollis ◽

Musculoskeletal Pathology ◽

Main Intervention

Congenital torticollis is a musculoskeletal pathology which is observed at or shortly after birth and is caused by the fibrosis or unilateral shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM). Physical therapy is one of the main intervention methods for torticollis and aims at: preventing the occurence of mobility limitation, reestablishing the muscular and neuromuscular balance, stimulating the normal infant development. The study was carried out on a 2-month-old patient diagnosed with congenital torticollis. The intervention program consisted in relaxing and stimulating massage, stretching, posture and facilitating exercises in accordance with the stages of development. Following the results, the initial hypothesis was confirmed, physical therapy managing to eliminate torticollis and facilitate normal neurological development of the infant.

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In Reply: Electromyography in Congenital Torticollis

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.29.2.334a ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 334-334

Author(s):

Chadwick F. Baxter

Keyword(s):

Clinical Experience ◽

Conservative Approach ◽

Severe Group ◽

Congenital Torticollis

By all means, we agree with Dr. Chamberlain's observation that it would be most helpful to run controls on the severe category as we have in the minimal and moderately severe categories as reported in the paper. It is a little difficult for those of us who are acquainted with the occasional case that goes on to severe deformity to treat the child that falls in this severe group with the conservative approach. However, this is undoubtedly the result of biased clinical experience.

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