Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a disorder of uncertain etiology that affects one of the the sternocleidomastoid muscles.
Features:
(1) It may be detected during the neonatal period or during infancy.
(2) There is a contracture or fibrosis of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle on one side.
(3) There is homolateral inclination of the head together with a rotation of the face and chin.
(4) It is more common on the right side.
(5) There may be a palpable mass in the affected SCM muscle.
A patient with CMT may also have congenital hip dysplasia.
It is important to exclude an acquired cause due to an underlying disorder.
Management:
(1) Physical therapy is often successful especially if the diagnosis is made early.
(2) For a persistent muscle contraction an injection of botulinum toxin has been recommended.
(3) In severe or unresponsive cases surgery on the SCM muscle can be performed
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Otolaryngology, Pedatrics
