What New Parents Need to be Aware of in their Babies…
TORTICOLLIS
What is torticollis?
Torticollis (wry neck) is a congenital or acquired condition of limited neck motion in which the child will hold the head to one side with the chin pointing to the opposite side. It is the result of the shortening of the sternocleidomastoid (neck) muscle. In early infancy, a firm, non-tender mass may be felt in the midportion of the muscle. The mass will go away and be replaced with fibrous tissue. If untreated, there can be permanent limitation of neck movement. There may be flattening of the head and face on the affected side.
How is torticollis treated?
Treatment consists of gentle stretching exercises. The face is turned away from the affected muscle while the head is tilted in the opposite direction with the neck extended. This position is held for a count of 5 and repeated 10 times twice daily. The baby can be placed in the crib or playpen in a way that encourages turning the head away from the deformity in order to observe activities and interesting or favorite toys. When placed in a car seat, padding may be placed on the affected side forcing the head to turn in the opposite direction. Follow up may be necessary in six months with pediatric surgery to assess for the necessity for head molding.
Where can a parent get help and talk with other parents about torticollis?
TorticollisKids www.torticolliskids.org is an organization of parents who have or have had infants with torticollis. The web site has explanations of torticollis and its treatment options, helpful hints on dealing with the condition, and links to obtain support from those who have really “been there”. Interested parents can join an email support group and participate in forums on the condition with other parents.
Long term follow up is important to assess for abnormal head shape.
Torticollis may cause head flattening and asymmetry.This condition can be much worse on one side if a child preferentially sleeps with that side down. Positional (or deformational) plagiocephaly, also known as flattened head syndrome, results from preferentially lying on one side of the head. Deformational brachycephaly is a flattening across the back of the head. The two conditions (plagiocephaly and brachycephaly) often occur together.
If the flattening gets worse anywhere on the child’s head, some parents may opt for further treatment like a cranial helmet that they would seek from a specialist to prevent the baby from sleeping on the flat part of his head.
If you have questions about your child’s head shape you can visit www.plagiocephaly.org
