Bipolar Release for Congenital Muscular Torticollis in Older Children

Between January 1989 and June 1997, 16 patients older than six years of age received bipolar release for congenital muscular torticollis. There were six boys and 10 girls. The age at operation randged from 6 years to 22 years, with an average age of 12 years. The right side was ivolved in 11 patients, and the left side in five. After the operation, a neck collar was applied for at least three months and physiotherapy program was started as soon as possible to move the head away from the side of torticollis. The average follow-up was 5.5 years (range two to ten years). There was excellent or good results in nine patients. All of the patients except two showed improvement of the facial asymmetry, and all of the patients except one had a satisfactory range of neck movement. One patient received a second operation due to recurrent torticollis. We concluded that patients could benefit from surgical release in correction of head tilt and improvement of neck movement, even though they were older than six years of age. We would like ot recommend bipolar release as a good procedure for congenital muscular torticollis in older children.