The results of a distal open release of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the treatment of muscular torticollis:A follow up study

Objective To evaluate the results of a distal open release of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the treatment of muscular torticollis.Method One hundred and twenty six muscular torticollis patients were treated with a distal open release of the sternocleidomastoid muscle since 1992 in our department.Sixty patients were followed up six months to eight years with the age between two and seventeen years(average 8.5).Preoperative and postoperative evaluation was performed according to both the function and cosmetic aspects.Result The results were satisfactory with fine rate of ninty percent,while one hundred percent in the age group of two to seven years old.Conclusion It was thought that a distal open release of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was still simple and resinable in the treatment of muscular torticollis with few complications.Early operation should be performed to the elder patients.But the normal morphology of the neck can not be restored with the loss of muscular collumn.