Clinical, Diagnostic and Management Approach to Congenital Muscular Torticollis

Congenital muscular torticollis, also called twisted neck or wryneck, is a condition in which an infant holds his or her head tilted to one side and has difficulty turning the head. In congenital torticollis, the muscle that extends down the side of the neck, the sternocleidomastoid muscle is tight and shortened. For most babies, stretching exercises and simple changes in how the infant is held or positioned will gradually lengthen the muscle and correct the problem. Congenital muscular torticollis is present at birth or develops soon after. It is usually discovered in the first 6 to 8 weeks of life, when a newborn begins to gain more control over the head and neck. In conclusion, early assessment and diagnosis play an important role in better means of medical management and good prognosis.