Treatment for children with congenital muscular torticollis

Objective Advocating to treat congenital muscular torticollis(CMT) with operation in earlier period to prevent facial asymmetry or plagiocephaly during the follow-up period after physical treatment. Methods The data of 287 CMT patients treated in our hospital retrospectively evaluated. 17 patients under 4 months old were performed tylectomy of sternocleidomastoid muscle. Of 270 patients from 5 months to 14 years old,243 patients who had facial asymmetry or plagiocephaly accepted physical treat- ment (210 accepted cheirapsis simply and 41 accepted traction simultaneously). Results Most of the patients were operated because of plagiocephaly after invalid physical treatment and the torticollis were corrected but the facial asymmetry could not be recovered. 17 patients under 4 months old who accepted operation were cured completely and no facial asymmetry or plagiocephaly after 3 months to 6 years follow-up. Conclusion The CMT patients should be performed tylectomy of sternocleidomastoid muscle in earlier stage to achieve the best therapeutic result.